Nature Boy

nothing

in this world is quite as powerful

as a woman knowing her own worth.

it only took one brave soul

to show me what i truly deserve in a love.

the standard is set from here on out.

a standard of the love i will demand from others

and a love i demand from myself.

self-love is a dangerous thing.

dangerous to all the men

who come after you.

dangerous to all the men who think they

are worthy of my love.

dangerous to the men who ask my number

before they even ask my name.

now, through you,

i know what real love looks like.

i know what it is to be pursued in the most

honest

respectful

thrilling

way

possible.

i know what it looks like when i can truly be

myself.

i am allowed to

steal the blankets,

tell you i hate broccoli,

accidentally wake you up in the middle of the night.

my cold feet brushed up against you.

you get up, half asleep, and put a space heater next to my side of the bed.

because you:

kissed me in the kitchen while you made us breakfast,

woke me from my dreams, pulling me in closer at 3:00 AM.

(it’s okay, the reality of you was even sweeter than the dreams),

laughed every time you kissed me, saying,

“i cant believe how simple this is,”

loved me without any preconceived notion of who i should be,

you’ve ruined me for anyone else.

it is dangerous

to know what i need in a man.

dangerous because you have no chance

if you are not

vibrant

honest

embracing

feeling

pondering.

if you are anything less than what i now know

i deserve.

a warrior

a dancer

a friend

a lover

who is interested in learning more than he is winning.

you’ve ruined me for everyone else

because you were everything.

but because of you

i know now that i can be someone’s everything too.

i am enough.