LOVE IS... by Elizabeth Hipwell

Love is...
Confounding
Surprising

Disappointing

And can be invested in a person who is not worth it
And sometimes makes no sense
It cannot be planned 
It creeps up on you
And is often 
Far from what the fairy tales tell us

Often one-sided, 

chock full of betrayal and emotional rape.

It's like a twisted vine that curls infinitely
Caressing with tenderness
Infiltrating with it's sharp thorns and idiosyncrasies
As I get to know loves curves,
Cubbyholes and corridors
It can be overwhelming
Its many hidden passageways
Lead to unknown territory
It grows in unexpected directions
Which cannot be foreseen or controlled

I wish I had forseen the sociopathic lack of love in the person who is the subject of this poem 

Love sees the imperfections
Relishes them

Naively overlooks them because hope springs eternal

Accepts them
Celebrates them
Love is confusing and scary
A risk

One that was a waste of my time & love I often want to scoot away from it

Why didn't I listen to that voice that said, "She is bad news and all about herself." Avoid it
Put on the pounds to keep it at bay
Protect myself from the inevitable hurt

You know, I am happy with who I am now. The pain is just too much to bear. Then why do I get giddy at its possibility?

Because I am too trusting.

I'm a stupid romantic

Someone's eyes
Really seeing them

Who knows if that's the real person Them really seeing me

She never really saw me after all 

just what I could do for her Trusting them

What a mistake that was Trusting me
Love makes it hard to think straight and maintain my autonomy

I wasn't too good at that Loosen the control
Let down the armor
Let in the messiness of love...

Maybe not. Maybe not in the forseeable future. -Elizabeth Hipwell