To Ciara: Rules For Loving
TO CIARA: RULES FOR LOVING
Little dark haired one, don’t fall
for the first boy to give you attention
or pay you a compliment. Don’t fall
for the first boy who says he is
‘the leader of a hundred men’;
there are many false messiahs.
Ciara, don’t fall for the first boy
who sings you love songs or writes
poems for you, you will know
the truth by the undertones; follow
your instincts, they are there to guide.
Don’t fall for silver-tipped words.
Irish jewel, jade of the Isles, don’t fall
for the first boy to make promises,
actions speak louder than words.
Your autonomy is a gift but when
disenchanted it becomes a wall,
a curse. Don’t fall. Don’t fall.
Don’t fall, innocent girl, for the first
boy to bring you shiny things, a far
greater beauty shines in you,
a power unaware. Value kindness
over the things people call precious.
Keep your enthusiasm in high regard.
O, Ciara, whose name is whispered
across mountain valleys, don’t fall
for the first boy who brings you flowers
on the first date. Don’t fall for the first
boy to show you his rose tattoo;
please don’t fall for him…
Oh, sweet woman of a thousand names
respect yourself enough to trust
yourself enough to let go of the rope
and fall for the one who writes the melody
for the song in your heart… fall for the one
who knows the geography of your soul
because they are his maps, too… fall for
the one who speaks the language of trees…
fall for the first boy who brings flowers everyday
and grows gardens in your eyes.
But, Ciara, at least once in your life
fall… for a heart that has not loved
fully is a rose that never blooms.
NOTE: the real Ciara who inspired this poem has gone on to become Miss Canada 2017.
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