Love like there's no yesterday

like you're the first to ever love

like it's fresh and for the first time

because it is fresh and for the first time

and the illusion otherwise is just a trick of human perception

Love like a hermit crab that said fuck it

and cast aside its shell forever

Love like a three year-old rides a tricycle

Love like the nukes just started flying

Love like two middle aged bloggers

making out in the rain while Australia floods

Love like cobwebs and calliopes

Love like a geyser of starlings

pouring from your chest cave

Love like God just cracked you open

and gazed at all the parts of you you're most ashamed of

the things you feel most guilty about

and chuckled sweetly

at how you think any of that matters

in this roaring ocean of infinity

Love like an intimate ultrasound

of the world that's waiting to be born

Love like everyone's watching

and you're a slutty little attention whore

Love like peacock angels in screaming orgasm

Love like you deserve to love

and be loved

because you do

because you do

I swear to you on my accordion heart

and my warzone womb

and my eyes that are brimming with my grandmother's tears

you deserve to love and be loved

you do

you do

and it is safe

and it is right

and it is good

Love like tender holiness kisses

Love like swampwater messiahs

Love like watching My Dinner with Andre for the very first time

home alone with the lights out

and a box of tissues

and a mind full of wonder

Love like eating an orange while listening to crickets

Love like a heartfelt impromptu pop song serenade

from an adoring lover

who cannot sing

Love like a mother noticing that her prattling child

will never be that age again

Love like you are a very young primate

in a very old universe you do not understand

and your accomplishments mean nothing

because everything's so big

so all that matters is love

and loving

Love like a scarecrow saint

Love like a balrog buddha

Love like babies eating ice cream

Love big

Love hard

Empty the tank

Leave it all in the ring

There's nothing to save it for anyway

________________

Reading by Caitlin Johnstone