By Ron Riekki
PROMPT — What is Love?
Love is the release of phenethylamine,
dopamine,
serotonin,
norepinephrine,
epinephrine,
oxytocin.
No, yes, it's the release of hate,
letting it go
for bliss,
letting go
of your past,
my past,
our past,
for the now,
acknowledging the now.
As a couples counselor who is a single
I daily wish
I could exist
with the bliss
of struggle,
of fighting
for love,
of keeping it together,
the family,
the connection,
the heroes, really,
how another therapist worded it to me—
'heroes'
who are willing to come here and say,
'I want this more than anything,
even though I'm screwing up.
Please help me.
Help us.
I want this'
and they don't need us,
just each other,
and I wish,
wish,
wish—
this poem as a wish,
is a wish—
that I'll experience
what love is
rather than teach
them
what they already know.
Ron Riekki has been awarded a 2014 Michigan Notable Book, 2015 The Best Small Fictions, 2016 Shenandoah Fiction Prize, 2016 IPPY Award, 2019 Red Rock Film Fest Award, 2019 Best of the Net finalist, 2020 Dracula Film Festival Vladutz Trophy, 2019 Très Court International Film Festival Audience Award and Grand Prix, 2020 Rhysling Anthology inclusion, and 2022 Pushcart Prize. Right now, Riekki is listening to "La vie est ailleurs" by Cœur de pirate. He writes from Detroit, Michigan.
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