Single And Happy

They ask me, wide-eyed and curious: 

“Why aren’t you married, Mr. Kyle?”

As if my solo life is an unfinished puzzle, 

As if happiness is a wedding band or a plus one 

I laugh, but sadness pools in the chambers of my soul 

Not for me but for them 

They’ve also absorbed the stories 

“Happily ever after” doesn’t mean “Happily ever alone” 

Kids have been told single sparks sorrow slowly 

Who shared this false information? 

Is it a family heirloom passed down for generations? 

Was it the movies, where romance reigns as the only narrative?"

It’s as if the compass of joy only points towards companionship 

I don’t need a partner to complete the song 

In friendships, I find melodies that sing, 

Each moment shared feels like I am longed for

Our hearts woven together in the ties they bring

Who said that friends can’t be sufficient company? 

Who planted this idea in their minds?

Is it whispered about at dinner tables 

Stitched into bedtime tales, 

Or buried in the lyrics of love songs we sing on repeat? 

I tell them I’m not lonely 

“But don’t you feel sad” they ask 

No, I feel free and alive 

Because I’ve learned to love that quiet roar 

Of my heartbeat, 

The way my thoughts ballet when I’m alone 

I am not waiting to be resolved 

I’m not lonesome, I’m limitless

I soar through skies untethered,

Like a bird unbound by cages

Or a painter with a blank canvas

Every day, I choose the colors of my life

Attention little ones: Marriage isn’t the only story 

Love isn’t always found in another person

It’s the friend whose laughter feels like home,

Or the child who gifts you gratitude in crayons.

Or the restaurant owner who gives you a free sample of their Korean Rice Balls 

Just because 

One day, you’ll learn that contentment isn’t 

a diamond ring 

It’s the freedom to write your own tale 

And to the adults- 

Why do we paint solitude as shadow,

And not as light where one’s own brilliance grows?

Why do we teach that romance is a trophy but 

Self-love is second place? 

Teach them that solitude is not a void, 

But a garden where their own roots can grow 

in solitude, I’ve found symphonies in silence,

And adventure in the uncharted corners of myself.

 

So, no I’m not married and maybe 

I never will be 

But don’t mistake my singleness 

For absence of joy

My life is a masterpiece in progress, painted 

With the colors of freedom, 

Each day a new stroke of adventure 

On my canvas

 

This poem is about: 
Me

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