In Totality

Loves 

inspired by Stephen Dunn

I love learning new languages, the thought

that communication with those who don’t

speak my native tongue is still possible. I

love the friendships that I have made as a result.

I love putting the things we think and speak

into writing, each word worth so much more

than the paper it’s on. I love how some people

understand, and how others will just never get it.

I love hearing those writings sung aloud, set

to a melodious tune. I love how such a simple

thing, how so common a thing, can make

me think more than I ever have in the classroom.

I love how people love, how people lay

down their hearts as an offering, and how

sometimes they get trampled on. Moreover I love

how those very people will go on to do it all again.

I love the things that we can’t see, but

know. I love how we are controlled by

the power of emotion, for which there

is no room in our materialistic world.

I love that all people are

irrational, that within each one of

us there lives something that we just

can’t do without. I love that thing, too.

I love the fact that I was tasked

with writing an expanded list poem

although it has turned into a manifesto

of sorts. I really do love it, though.

I truly do.