Love
when the lights are
Off and the music has gone silent.
Love
when the room is empty.
Love
when you are standing
Alone in front of the mirror.
Love
when you smile awkwardly,
Love
the stretchmarks
That trace your skin lovingly.
Love
the little fat
On your stomach,
Shimmy and wiggle and
Love
the way your thighs rub together.
Love
how your fingers
Get stuck in your curls.
Love
the smooth, uneven
Skin down your legs and arms.
Love,
love,
love
the way you
Are even when no one is there.
Don’t look for love outside
The four walls of yourself.
Don’t look for love in others
Until you can love yourself first,
And mean it. And Love yourself enough to allow
Yourself to be loved back. Just Love.
Mecca-Amirah Jackson 