For Friends
about you
a poem
a story
a song
this?
you were a
fantastic folk duo
an archer
a titan
a hunter
you were a player
cruelly playing
with the hearts of others
you were
a ball of indestructible energy
an innovator
a lost cause
you were down and out again
and we
were all crying
how we love you
but you’re not a character
that simple words
can adequately sketch
not mine anyway
maybe someone else’s…
but i do wanna say something
otherwise
I wouldn’t have started this
right?
individually
and collectively
you
are
everything
more real than the universe
you’re tangible love, my friends
TANGIBLE LOVE
and you’re there
out there in the world
and it’s that
that makes the world
bearable
i love you
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The problems with valentine’s day
firstly, it’s my birthday, so fuck off
second, growing up
people would often remark on this
saying things like
“he’ll be a heartbreaker”
(negative attributions)
and
“aww, little valentino”
annoying,
especially when you’re twelve
go to an all boys school
and don’t understand girls at all
(I didn’t have a girlfriend until I was twenty)
but my main problem with it is this
it’s a cheesy love song
a rom-com
a mills and boon novel
it’s the reinforcement of old ideas
of what love is in a contemporary setting
it’s love contextualised through commericalism
consumerism
(the least romantic of any activity, surely)
it’s so out of touch
with real life
it’s a day a year where they devalue love
by demeaning it with
ideogram hearts
and cute teddy bears
it’s the enforcement
of a pact by flowers
passive-aggressive
possession
and the prescriptive
dinners by candle – light
I cannot stomach
sure, I’ve had them
but I can’t stand the idea
that a greeting card company
a chain store
or the smug git on the news
(not that I watch it)
should guide
how and when
I express my love
for another
in fact
I can’t understand
why anyone would or should
ever presume to suggest
how love is to be expressed
to anyone
at any time
ever
there may be a case
for the gentle advice
from a parent when asked
by a small child
but even then
maybe it’s best to decline
and let them see
let them find out for themselves
if they see love around them
they’ll learn how to give
and receive it
kindly
or with passion
and energy
or solemnity
as the situation should require
they’ll learn
we’ll learn
lets learn together
for fucks sake!
Lets chuck the teddies in the bin!
illustrated-self 