where love hides

love hides in the strangest places—

sewn between pages of old books

tucked inside laughter lines around eyes

buried beneath soil where flowers grow

whispered through static on late calls

tattooed on strangers' wrists in ink

folded into origami birds taking flight

sleeping in cats curled on laps

love hides in familiar faces too—

father's hands that built our home

mother's voice singing kitchen songs

sister's fingers braiding my wild hair

grandmother's recipes passed like secrets

teacher's patience through my learning curve

friend's shoulder offered during rainstorms

lover's gaze when nobody's watching

the mirror when i finally see myself