Coming Soon or Never

COURAGE

the Sunshine State

Love me 
like luck’s got nothing to do with it.

Like my eyelash on your shirt

is more than just the aftermath of circumstance.

Or if the world, in its quiet, 

mysterious ways, hadn’t wished 

us together, you would’ve gone out to find me.

Not a crystal or elixir,

not a parched man in search of rain.

Love me like the light

looks for something beautiful

to shine on. Which is, everything.

Which is, love me like you see me 

everywhere you go.

Love me like you love the mailman, 

the mangoes, the mood swings 

overhead. (The tears of joy, as well as rage.)

Love me like I am less than my whole self,

the way you love a limb, a knuckle, a nail.

Love me like you don’t love me at all — 

not for who I am. Not for how my hair curls

in the humid, Florida air. 

Love me like you choose to love it here, 

despite every reason not to.

 

‍

 

‍

John Doe
Poet, Independent Writer

PREVIOUS POEM

NEXT POEM

Share this post
Poetry Life
Emotional Journey
Nature's Beauty
Creative Expression
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro
Hope Is a Kind of Blasphemy
Write with us. Learn with us. Publish with us.
Join a growing community of poets & readers.
Early access to calls, workshops, and updates.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
No spam. No ads. No data-selling. Unsubscribe anytime.
MEMBERSHIP PORTAL    |    FAQ   |    SUBMIT
2025 ONLY INK, Inc. All rights reserved.
ONLY POEMS®️ and associated marks are trademarks of ONLY INK, Inc. All individual works are copyrighted by their respective authors. All poems, essays, and artworks published on this site remain the intellectual property of their creators and may not be reproduced without explicit permission. The views expressed in published works are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ONLY INK, Inc., its editors, or affiliated entities. While many works draw on lived experience, they may contain fictionalized elements; no reference to any real person is intended or should be inferred. ONLY POEMS is an ad-free, independent, reader-supported publication.