Some give presents,

Gifts upon gifts,

Gadgets and jewelry and dolls.

Others give hugs,

Kisses and hand-holds and nudges,

Closer and closer.

Even more give time,

They stop to wait and help,

Talking and laughing and listening.

Sometimes,

It’s hard to give.

Gifts cost money,

And there are so many choices.

Hugs can feel stifling,

Sweaty or _too_ close.

Listening takes focus,

And talking means walking on eggshells.

Sometimes,

It’s hard to love.

Sometimes,

It’s hard to be loved.

But love is not meant to be categorized,

To be boxed in like dusty files.

Sometimes,

Love looks like words scrawled on a page.

Or a shoulder to cry on.

Or to give enough space,

And being patient.

Love is hard,

It’s difficult to learn.

Yet everyone can speak it,

No matter their live language.