Love is the Answer
Ashley Merkley
Thursday June 27th, 2019
Over the years
I have learned what it is to love
And what it is to be broken by the hands of hate...
And I have learned that love is the answer.
The hands of love are gentle
They are the comforting look in my mother’s eyes
When she tells me I don’t have to cry for my sadness to be valid
But also that it’s okay if I do.
Love is how you feel upon seeing the curving smile
Of someone you hold so special in your life.
I have learned that indulging in self-hate
Just to make a work of art is a form of emotional suicide.
It’s not hip or edgy to cut your emotions off
Or only allow yourself to feel negative emotions-
It’s dangerous, it can be deadly.
Over the years
I have learned that I am worthy,
That I deserve good things
Despite how many people have told me that I don’t,
I do.
And that although sometimes I feel weak
Because of the illnesses, because of the abuses,
Because of the wars I wage with myself in my head,
I am strong.
I deserve beauty in all of its forms
I deserve to love myself and put my emotions first,
And in fact- I need to do so.
But most of all I have learned,
That this world would be so much better off
With more love.