I knew exacltly what love looked like when I was younger
Even though I had never met love yet, I would have recognized love if I ever saw him
Love played three sports
Love wanted to swing on the swing set with me until our seats swung in sync 
Love played an acoustic guitar and knew all my favorite Disney hits
If only I could find him

But when love finally showed up 
Love enjoyed games, but mostly with a console 
Love was more about the slide than the swings 
And love only liked the kind of music that angry people wrote
The kind that was yelled 
The kind that didn’t stare at the end of the water for as long as they could remember 
Love had terrible rhythm, but at least he danced his heart out
Love hovered over the phone because he knew I wasn’t a patient person
And love grew
Love stretched like a trampoline 
And then love changed 
Love disappeared 
Slowly like baby teeth
Love vanished like an amateur magician
Everyone saw the trap door but me 
Like a flat tire
I had other places I had planned to go 
But my plans didn’t matter

And then Love left

Love stayed away for years
And when love reappeared 
I barley recognized him
Love smelled different
Had darker eyes
Love came with freckles I didn’t recognize
Love had songs that reminded him of someone else
Songs love didn’t like to listen to 
Neither did I 
But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly
We found jokes that make us laugh
Love was messier now
Not as simple
Love chewed way too loud 
But love also cried
Love would tell me that I'm beautiful and mean it over and over again
Bright and early in the morning
After a long cry tucked away in his shoulder
When I didn't want to hear it 
When I didn't believe it 
When no one else will tell me 
Love still thought I was beautiful 
But love was not perfect
And would sometimes forget

So I learned what this new love looks like

 
Love is not who you were expecting 
Love is not what you can predict
Maybe love is always in the wrong time zone 
Maybe love is not ready for you 
Or maybe you are not ready for love 
Maybe the next time you see love, it is many years after the last goodbye 
Maybe love is older now 
Maybe love is only here for a visit 
Maybe love stays 
Maybe love can’t 
Maybe love shouldn’t 
Love arrives exactly when love is supposed to 
And love leaves exactly when love must 
So, when love arrives say 
“Welcome, make yourself comfortable”
If love leaves, ask him to leave the door open behind him
Turn off the music
Listen to the quiet
And whisper 
“Thank you for stopping by”