Love & Hate Poem by Aaron Wyton Greenwood

I love the way you smile,
the way you light up a room.
I hated when you made me wait a while,
and when you'd replay the same damn tune.

I love our boy, who your guiding with your unwavering care.
I love the way you wear your hair.
I love the way you laugh at my stupid jokes,
and the countless warm memories your image evokes.

I hate the way you occupy my every spare thought.
Losing your love; the best lesson I've been taught.
I hate the man I used to be; so unworthy of your trust.
Condemned to reside in the umbra of your lust.

Like fingernails on a chalkboard,
the noise you sound when drinking hot tea.
But your modesty, your body, your beauty,
the way you ground me.

Thinking of you reminds me of the wrongs I've done,
missed opportunities and the lies I've spun.
Reminiscing on my decisions, I ask myself ‘why? '
So angry at myself ‘til my tears run dry.

A future with you, on which my plans now converge;
I know without it my life will be hollow.
The immature and reckless tendencies I've purged,
moulding myself for you; for a life without sorrow.

I love that we are still friends,
I hate that we are just friends.
I hate the attention you crave from boys;
my affections reduced to mere noise.

I use ‘hate' a lot, whether exaggerated or true.
‘Love' is a word I reserve only for you.
I hate that you're irreplaceable.
I still love you. I'll always love you.