" /> Teen Ink: What Matters: <img src="/Past/2003/June/WhatMatters/WarmLoveL.gif" /> from our Teen Magazine
Teen Ink: Teen Magazine, Poetry, Blogs, College, Music, Movie & Book Reviews, Fiction
Subscribe to our magazine
Submit Work
 
Advanced Search
Article title:
Words within article:
Section of website:
Article appears on:
Author's first name:
Author's last initial:
Author's city:
Author's state:
Author's country:
    
Subscribe
Submit Work
Join Teen Ink
About Us
Teen Ink Store
Tell A Friend
Contests
beRED on AOL
Bulletin Board
Partners
Resources
Celebrity
Interviews
Advertise
Subscribing
Schools
Link to Us
Contact Us







« Previous Article What Matters Index Next Article »

Nicole C., Eagan, MN

Rate this article:

Send your work

Email a Friend

Bulletin Board

Teen Ink Blogs




When you come home at the end of the day
do you want to bethere?
Is the food on the table the only way
they ever show theirlove?
"I grew up on hugs and kisses," he told me.
Well, I grewup on carrots.
I've seen how it goes in a house of love
and I've seen howit is at home.
It has taken me so long to let myself show my love.
I reachout and hold others' hands but never yours.
I do not long for your touch
no matter how much you pretend I do.
I have found my strength beneathanother's wing
and have learned my greatest lessons away
from these fourwalls.
I went to his house and hugged his dad - who has in so many ways becomemy own - and he told me he loved me and kissed the top of my head and I believehim.
But you, when you cry about yourself
and wallow in your pity, and whenat the end of
the conversation
I say to you "I love you" andyou awkwardly say,
"Yeah, okay. Bye. Thanks, I love you, too.Bye,"
and hang up the phone
I slowly die inside
Warmlove.
This is what matters.
(One of those lessons I have learned.)
I amso ill-nourished by these empty carrots.



« Previous Article Index Next Article »