poem for lover girls

every lover girl deserves endless joy
to fill the wind with howling laughter 
holding hands on the sidewalk 
after two drinks and a shared cigarette 
feeling safe under street lamps
building a home in someone’s collarbone 
bonding over bad decisions 
unashamed of their need to stir
whatever is about to settle
to be adored for their thunderclap softness
to know gentle, slow, patient love 
can still grow
where there are wildfires.