When Love Arrives (feat. Phil Kaye)

I knew exactly what love looked

Like in seventh grade

Even though I hadn’t met love yet

If love had wandered into my homeroom

I would’ve recognized him at first glance

Love wore a hemp necklace

I would’ve recognized her at first glance

Love wore a tight french braid

Love played acoustic guitar and knew all my favorite Beatles songs

Love wasn’t afraid to ride the bus with me

And I knew, just must be checking the wrong classrooms

I just must be searching the wrong hallways

She was there, I was sure of it

If only I could find him

But when love finally showed up, she had a bow cut

He wore the same clothes every day for a week

Love hated the bus

Love didn’t know anything about The Beatles

Instead, every time I try to kiss love

Our teeth got in the way

Love became the reason I lied to my parents

I’m going to Ben’s house

Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor

But made sure we never missed a slow song

Love waited by the phone because she knew

If her father picked up it would be: Hello? Hello? I guess they hung up

And love grew, love stretched like a trampoline

Love changed. Love disappeared

Slowly, like baby teeth, losing parts of me I thought I needed

Love vanished like an amateur magician

And everyone could see the trapdoor but me

Like a flat tire, there were other places I planned on going

But my plans didn’t matter

Love stayed away for years

And when love finally reappeared

I barely recognized him/her

Love smelt different now, had darker eyes

A broader back, love came with freckles I didn’t recognize

New birthmarks, a softer voice

Now there were new sleeping patterns, new favorite books

Love had songs that reminded him of someone else

Songs love didn’t like to listen to, so did I

But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly

We found jokes that make us laugh

And now, love makes me fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies

But love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack

Love looks great in lingerie but still likes to wear her retainer

Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator

Love knows where she’s going

It just might take her two hours longer than she planned

Love is messier now, not as simple

Love uses the words boobs in front of my parents

Love chews too loud

Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste

Love uses smiley faces in her text messages

And turns out, love shits!

But love also cries

And love will tell you you are beautiful and mean it

Over and over again, you are beautiful

When you first wake up, you are beautiful

When you’ve just been crying, you are beautiful

When you don’t want to hear it, you are beautiful

When you don’t believe it, you are beautiful

When nobody else will tell you, you are beautiful

Love still thinks you are beautiful

But love is not perfect and will sometimes forget

When you need to hear it most, you are beautiful, do not forget this

Love is not who you were expecting

Love is not who you can predict

Maybe love is in New York City, already asleep

You are in California, India, Australia, wide awake

Maybe love is always in the wrong time zone

Maybe love is not ready for you

Maybe you are not ready for love

Maybe love just isn’t the marrying type

Maybe the next time you see

Love is twenty years after the divorce

Love is older now, but just as beautiful as you remembered

Maybe love is only there for a month

Maybe love is there for every firework

Every birthday party, every hospital 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

When love arrives, say, welcome, make yourself comfortable

If love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her

Turn off the music, listen to the quiet, whisper

Thank you for stopping by