When Love Arrives (feat. Phil Kaye)

I knew exactly what love looked
Like in seventh grade

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

I would’ve recognized her at first glance
Love wore a tight french braid
Love played acoustic guitar and knew all my favorite Beatles songs
Love wasn’t afraid to ride the bus with me

And I knew, just must be checking the wrong classrooms
I just must be searching the wrong hallways
She was there, I was sure of it

If only I could find him
But when love finally showed up, she had a bow cut
He wore the same clothes every day for a week
Love hated the bus

Love didn’t know anything about The Beatles
Instead, every time I try to kiss love
Our teeth got in the way
Love became the reason I lied to my parents
I’m going to Ben’s house

Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor
But made sure we never missed a slow song
Love waited by the phone because she knew
If her father picked up it would be: Hello? Hello? I guess they hung up

And love grew, love stretched like a trampoline
Love changed. Love disappeared
Slowly, like baby teeth, losing parts of me I thought I needed

Love vanished like an amateur magician
And everyone could see the trapdoor but me
Like a flat tire, there were other places I planned on going
But my plans didn’t matter

Love stayed away for years
And when love finally reappeared
I barely recognized him/her
Love smelt different now, had darker eyes
A broader back, love came with freckles I didn’t recognize

New birthmarks, a softer voice
Now there were new sleeping patterns, new favorite books
Love had songs that reminded him of someone else
Songs love didn’t like to listen to, so did I

But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly
We found jokes that make us laugh
And now, love makes me fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies
But love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack

Love looks great in lingerie but still likes to wear her retainer
Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator
Love knows where she’s going
It just might take her two hours longer than she planned

Love is messier now, not as simple
Love uses the words boobs in front of my parents
Love chews too loud
Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste

Love uses smiley faces in her text messages
And turns out, love shits!
But love also cries
And love will tell you you are beautiful and mean it
Over and over again, you are beautiful

When you first wake up, you are beautiful
When you’ve just been crying, you are beautiful
When you don’t want to hear it, you are beautiful
When you don’t believe it, you are beautiful
When nobody else will tell you, you are beautiful

Love still thinks you are beautiful
But love is not perfect and will sometimes forget
When you need to hear it most, you are beautiful, do not forget this
Love is not who you were expecting
Love is not who you can predict

Maybe love is in New York City, already asleep
You are in California, India, Australia, wide awake
Maybe love is always in the wrong time zone
Maybe love is not ready for you
Maybe you are not ready for love
Maybe love just isn’t the marrying type

Maybe the next time you see
Love is twenty years after the divorce
Love is older now, but just as beautiful as you remembered

Maybe love is only there for a month
Maybe love is there for every firework
Every birthday party, every hospital visit
Maybe love stays- maybe love can’t
Maybe love shouldn’t

Love arrives exactly when love is supposed to
And love leaves exactly when love must
When love arrives, say, welcome, make yourself comfortable

If love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her
Turn off the music, listen to the quiet, whisper
Thank you for stopping by