raw

you’re letting me love you
with my heart on my sleeve
and my eyes wide open

with honesty
and simplicity

in an
un-conventional
un.cookie.cutter’y
un-spectacular
yet

greatest love of all time
kinda way

hoping you can’t see
through to my soul
(and knowing you do)
(and amazed that you
still want to
even though
you see)
me

kinda way

laughing while making love
let’s inspire greatness in each other
thank you for parking in the driveway
kiss your eyelids while you’re sleeping

hand on my throat
heart in your hands

first and last thought
where’s my phone
in the morning

kinda way

through fear and doubt and
‘i.vowed.i.would.never.do.this.again’
i’m letting you love me too

cause baby,
this aint nothing like that
ever tried to be

© jmr/2010

you’re still here…

you have conquered me…

showed me that you mean it without condition

clearly stated your feelings
so there could be no room for my misguided interpretation
so there could be no room for familiar distrust

it is what it is
you are who you are
what i see
is what is there

you’ve appealed to me on every level of comprehension

you’ve made sure

the woman
the child
the coward
the lover
the fighter
the sinner
the saint

in me all know

irrevocably
that you see it all
inside and out

and you’re still here…
you’re still here

© jmr/ 2003

safe and sound

you bring out the lady in me
the one with impeccable manners
who knows just what to say
at a dinner party

you bring out the child in me
the one who finds joy in a butterfly
who lays on the grass and decides what
clouds resemble

you bring out the animal in me
the one who straddles you
flat on your back and holds your hands
behind your head

you bring out the woman in me
the one who nurtures the man
she loves with sweetness, vulnerability
trust and honesty

you bring out the dreamer in me
the one who doesn’t understand
the meaning of can’t… and strives
to achieve everything

you humble me
with every touch
every word
every moment i can rest so easily within

even when we’re apart
i’m always in your arms
safe and sound

©jmr/2009

promises

you will protect me
and i will love you
you will teach me
to live in the moment
and i will accept
you just as you are

we will
forever
carry each other
never taking
too much
giving
without measure

you will hold my hand
and i will hold your heart
you will burrow deep
into my warm embrace
and i will give you every reason
to believe in me

we will
always
reach each other
without even
trying
love
without condition

you will show me
truth
and i will show you
understanding
we will show each other
what we’ve both been missing

you will tilt my head up
to show me the stars
and i will see

i will mirror their shine
every time i look at you

i am yours
©jmr/2009

you knew better (111 words)

i thought i was so evolved
grown, strong

downright cocky
in my ability

to deflect negativity

compartmentalize
and sidestep pain

a game I played
subconsciously

with those around me
(even with myself)

then you
blew in like a storm

called bullshit

shook up my neatly folded life

forced me to look at my truth
to feel
my emotions

raw
without boundaries

be uncomfortable
be frightened
be exposed

let go anyway

on your doorstep
full of shame
you held your arms open
for me to fall into
without question
without hesitation

could you really
love this girl
with her walls completely
down?

it’s alright, sweetheart
i already
know the answer
© jmr / 2009

reckless abandon

Your touch ignites my senses
Our candor, something I’ve never experienced

The way you take control when things get scary for me
And gently guide me back to
Feeling normal again

Our laughter, from the very start
The purest sense of joy
The sweetest lightness of heart

The innocence as we stare wide-eyed
At what we have together

We watch with wonder
We open up with reckless abandon

We are vulnerable to the safest other person
Each of us has ever known

I see what I like best about myself in you
I see what I can become in your eyes

You are someone I can be myself with
My deepest, most intimate self

You wrap me up in your arms
And bury your body inside mine

To get closer – not to take from me
You re-awaken my sense of belief
And trust

You make me feel brand new

© jmr/2001