Old Friend

To L.M.

There are moments when words feel empty, unemotional, and worthless, too small and delicate to hold and possess the precious load of emotions I have for you. But here I am, with a heart full of thoughts about you that I can’t quite let slip away, so I am to try to translate them as best I can, their freedom and joy forever held back, captive to my simple language. 

Your eyes are like galaxies—vibrant, endless, and filled with stories only the stars might understand. When I look into them, I find an ocean of quiet wisdom, a depth that draws me in without hesitance, as though I am meant to drift there forever in eternity. There’s a calm within them, a peace that whispers of profound things, of earth and sky and the spaces in between, spirit and soul and beyond. You hold within you a stillness that makes the world seem less loud, less rushed, like a quiet moment suspended in time, a quiet before the storm which is my life. If I could lose myself in those pools of emerald light, I would, and I know I would rest for long and not give a damn about anything else. And then, there’s your body, so beautifully ethereal and molded by God, yet somehow you look at it with sorrowed eyes. Please know that there is grace in every movement you make, a fluidity that makes you seem as if you’re moving between worlds, moving between sun and moon and heaven, your feet never quite touching the ground. It's as if the earth itself has shaped you with its harsh beaten hands, made you soft and clement, like the petals of a wildflower swaying with the winds, as if to find peace itself by creating you. You wear the world so effortlessly, and every curve and sway sings elegance, effortless grace. But beyond all of this lies the true heart of you: that peaceful mind, that creative spirit, that free soul. Your creativity spills out in ways that leave me breathless, unchained, and full of wonder. The way you create with art is a testament to the freedom in your heart that you hold so dearly. There’s a serenity in you that encourages us all to find our own. You are a masterpiece, and I wish and pray so damn hard you would just be able to accept my words completely, for I’ve learned lies do no good in this world, and that they are not worth telling. You are the kind of rare magic that the world needs more of and I am endlessly grateful to have you by my side, to witness the art of you. I hope you truly understand my words.