Love Poem: The Lesson
Rita Lopez Avatar
Written by: Rita Lopez

The Lesson

I’ve chased love before and I was wrong 
And that’s okay
Sometimes, I completely embarrassed myself for love 
And that’s okay 
Things have a way of working out in the end 
The light at the end of the tunnel, as some want to call it 
My heart felt stong the day that I saw you 
I had no idea what it meant 
Or why I was feeling what I was feeling but I knew whatever it was it was strong 
An even that was wrong 
You were not who I was suppose to end up with in the end 
You were just the lesson 
The lesson on respect 
The lesson on kindness
The lesson on safety 
The lesson on patience 
And I've graduated 
I’ve released you
I don’t know if someone else will come in 
And for the first time, I am not chasing love 
As they say whatever happens, happens 
I do know 
I want to feel safe 
I want to feel respected in love 
I want someone to want me as equally as I want them
To compromise but not to have to change for you 
No one should have to dim themselves for anyone to feel at ease 
That’s like saying you are the only one that matters, as long as you are the only one feeling peace
I will not do that, ever
If I cannot have those things in love, then I do not want it 
Does that mean, I have given up on love?
No
It just means I have truly learned how to love myself freely 
And without
You