A Hundred Times

I fall in love a dozen times a day

It’s been that way as long as I can remember

I used to fall in love with the last seven words of a chorus

The graffiti on bathroom walls

Jars of sweet tea

The curious laughter in a stranger’s eyes

I used to fall in loves with things as simple as colors

The way the sun set just right

And the clouds of the milky way that we can barely see

But since I met you

I don’t fall in love a dozen times a day

I fall in love a hundred times a day

I fall in love with the way you tangle and untangle my hair in your fingertips

Even in your sleep

The way a smile flickers on your lips when I glance at you

I fall in love with Monday mornings

When I’m so happy in your arms

That I miss class

I fall in love with your hand on the small of my back

It’s only there for half a second

But it’s enough to remind me that you’re not going anywhere

I fall in love with your questions

Your honest fascination with me and my family and my life

I fall in love with your five o’ clock shadow tickling my neck

Your breath laughing on my shoulder

Your name-calling, hair-pulling, playful sort of love for me

I fall in love with the dirt underneath your fingernails after work

The pillows you throw at me

Curling up beside you and melting into your arms when the world is too much

Trying desperately to stay awake

So I don’t have to look away from your eyes even for one minute

But eventually nodding off

Because falling in love a hundred times a day is exhausting

And as long as we're nodding off together

I know I'll wake up and find a hundred more things to fall in love with

Reviews

[Emily B]

oh, lovely . . . lovely, beautiful poetry

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the poem. Good to fall in love often and with all things. When I take the grandchildren to the park. I thank you trees. We need to love the world and the good things given and received. I like the logic and the positive feel of your poem. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote