If I told you how, would you love me?

A long awaited handbook

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I know what I want in a partner. Most of us own a checklist with deal-breakers on top and nice to haves towards the bottom.

Smart, kind, generous, loving, loves dogs, doesn’t hate cats…

But an Instagram reel giving a poem prompt “How I should be loved” managed to stop me in my tracks on a random Thursday night. And I realized that I’ve never articulated the way I need to be loved. Not until now.

I’m not a poet, and this is not a poem. But I hope you do enjoy :)

Get lost in my eyes. Give in to me. Tell me what keeps you up at night.

Trace my face with your fingers, let them run through my hair.

Wrap me in your arms, make them the safest place on earth.

Love me like it’s the last day you’ll see me, ’cause honestly, what if it is?

Kiss me like it’s your last breath, tender yet urgent.

Make me feel like I’m the only girl that you’ll ever really love.

Tell me that I look beautiful every day you get to see me.

Tell me that I’m never too much, yet always enough.

Touch me casually like it’s the most natural thing,

For I could not ever get enough of your warmth.

But in moments when you feel you want more,

Show me how much you crave me, body and soul.

Love the ones that love me, make them see that they don’t need to worry,

For you will always cherish my free spirit and sparkle.

Show them that you see me for everything that I am,

And that your love transcends every thick-skinned wall that you have.

Hold me tight when the world gets too much.

Let my shoulder shakes drown in your warm embrace.

Wipe my tears and tell me that you’ll be there to catch me.

Even though you have faith that I would not fall.

Talk to me about anything and everything, I’ll share my world with you.