When Love Arrives (Transcript of Sarah Kay & Phil Kaye's spoken word poetry)
Both: I knew exactly what love looked like- in seventh grade.
Sarah: Even though I hadn’t met love yet, if love had wandered into my homeroom I would’ve recognized him at first glance. Love wore a hemp necklace.
Philip: I would’ve recognized her at first glance, love wore a tight french braid.
S: Love played acoustic guitar and knew all my favorite Beatles songs.
P: Love wasn’t afraid to ride the bus with me.
S: I just must be searching the wrong classrooms,
P: just must be checking the wrong hallways, she was there, I was sure of it.
S: If only I could find him.
B: But when love finally showed up,
S: He wore the same clothes every day for a week.
S: Love didn’t know anything about The Beatles.
P: every time I try to kiss love,
B: our teeth got in the way.
S: Love became the reason I lied to my parents.
P: I’m going to- Ben’s house.
S: Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor, but made sure we never missed a slow song.
P: Love waited by the phone because she knew that if her father picked up it would be:
S: “Hello? Hello? *heavy breathing* I guess they hung up.”
S: stretched like a trampoline.
S: Love disappeared, slowly, like baby teeth, losing parts of me I thought I needed.
P: Love vanished like an amateur magician, and everyone could see the trapdoor but me.
S: Like a flat tire, there were other places I had planned on going,
B: but my plans didn’t matter.
S: Love stayed away for years, and when love finally reappeared, I barely recognized him.
P: Love smelled different now, had darker eyes,
S: a broader back, love came with freckles I didn’t recognize.
P: New birthmarks, a softer voice.
S: Now there were new sleeping patterns,
S: Love had songs that reminded him of someone else,
P: songs love didn’t like to listen to.
P: But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly,
S: we found jokes that make us laugh.
P: And now, love makes me fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies.
S: But love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack.
P: Love looks great in lingerie but still likes to wear her retainer.
S: Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator.
P: Love knows where she’s going, it just might take her two hours longer than she planned.
S: Love uses the words “boobs” in front of my parents.
S: Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste.
P: Love uses smiley faces in her text messages.
S: But love also cries. And love will tell you you are beautiful
S: When you first wake up,
S: When you’ve just been crying,
S: When you don’t want to hear it,
S: When you don’t believe it,
S: When nobody else will tell you,
S: Love still thinks - you are beautiful.
P: But love is not perfect and will sometimes forget,
S: when you need to hear it most,
P: Love is not who you were expecting, love is not what you can predict.
S: Maybe love is in New York City, already asleep, and you are in California, Australia, wide awake. Maybe love is always in the wrong time zone,
P: maybe love is not ready for you. Maybe you are not ready for love.
S: Maybe love just isn’t the marrying type.
P: Maybe the next time you see love is twenty years after the divorce, love looks older now, but just as beautiful as you remembered.
S: Maybe love is only there for a month.
P: Maybe love is there for every firework, every birthday party, every hospital visit.
P: Love arrives exactly when love is supposed to, and love leaves exactly when love must.
S: When love arrives, say,
B: “Welcome. Make yourself comfortable.”
P: If love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her.
S: Turn off the music, listen to the quiet,
B: “Thank you. Thank you for stopping by.”
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