Sometimes it comes in burnt-bottom pans
and frayed-end quilts. Sometimes it’s scuffed guitars
played by callous-tipped hands.

Sometimes it’s not the stars, but the scars
and the eyes that see
beauty in the imperfections and the marred.

Sometimes it’s in the tepid heat
and low engine rumble of a diesel truck.
Love’s a thing of beauty, but not always love-ly.

Love without the -ly

© Whitney L. Schwartz 2015

As seen in Time Of Singing magazine, Volume 42, Number 2, Summer 2015

Winner in a third-place tie for Time Of Singing’s 2015 Summer contest