Love knows no borders; love is a common language, spoken in the silence of lovers' gazes, expressed in the steadfastness of gripped hands, and exemplified in the determination of chosen families. During Pride Month, we recognize and honor the many ways love exists beyond tradition, and we also celebrate the incredible worlds of identities and experiences that our queer communities inhabit. Poetry is also uniquely the best way to honor love and sincerely acknowledge human emotion.
Poetry, with its rhythmic flow and infinite possibilities, is probably the most genuine expression of love. It permits us to acknowledge the truth of human emotion, to make the inaudible heard, and to express the unexpressed of the heart. Poetry speaks of longing, of desire, of pain, and hope. It's here that the impression of love in its many forms—romantic love, platonic love, self-love, love of community—is pure. Poetry is how we remember the gentleness of love while appreciating its strength. In the vibrant spectrum of Pride, poetry emerges as a celebration, a rebellion, and an affirmation of the right to love freely.
Kalpesh Desai believes that everything exists within language, and it is our interest in language that increasingly inspires love. In his book, Jasmine in Her Hair: Poetry for the Soul, the author reflects on beautiful, enduring themes such as love, heartbreak, self-love, rediscovery, and regeneration in language that is, indeed, beautiful. He reminds us to fondly nurture each relationship and be grateful for the role each person plays in our overall journey. He emphasized the freedom of forgetting our past and the joy of 'discovering' someone who reminds us that we can, in fact, love again.
In his poetic work, love is examined through the lens of pleasure, pain, its fragility, and its resilience, which profoundly affect the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community as they navigate love with courage and tenderness. In a sense, each poem emphasizes the nature of love, its defense, and the qualities of integrity, intimacy, kindness, understanding, and consistency, all of which are related to the spirit of Pride.
Desai also emphasises the huge freedom available in releasing the past and contemplating the possibility of love again. How often do we worry that love no longer exists for us once it has dissipated? How frequently do we shield our hearts from hurt, even when it means rendering ourselves cold to affection? In his poems, Desai reassures us that love is an infinite substance; it will recede, it will return, and it will take new forms, yet it is always a part of our world. He encourages us to remain open to the unpredictable; to unearth love where we least expect it—within ourselves, and in others we did not anticipate.
To love and be loved is to be seen, acknowledged, and valued. Love, rendered free from expectation and judgment, is indeed the strongest force of all. And poetry, in its ability to articulate and capture the raw reality of what makes us human, is among the most beautiful ways to honor that love. Through the words of poets such as Kalpesh Desai, we are assured that love is a journey-a journey of discovery, a journey of growth, a journey of infinite possibilities. And there, on that journey, we find ourselves, again and again.
Pride is more than an event; it is a proclamation of love, unapologetic love, boundless love, love that breaks cultural boundaries. Desai simply captures the essence of love in poetry, and not only is love, in all its manifestations, transformative, but also being loved and loving us to grow, mold, and shape us, creating grounds for shared resilience. Whether it's the excitement of love anticipated, the sadness of distance, or the dependability of love in a partnership, every stanza's nugget is an emotion that exceeds labels and expectations.
By Amormia M. Vicoy