**Love is Respect**
In the quiet moments before dawn’s light,
Where whispers of affection gently rest,
There lies a truth, profound and bright:
True love, at its core, is respect.
It’s the patience in a listening ear,
The understanding in a soft, spoken word,
Acknowledging fears without dismissive sneer,
In every act, love’s voice is heard.
Respect is the foundation, strong and deep,
Not just in the easy, but in trials too.
It’s the promises we choose to keep,
And seeing the best in each other’s view.
It’s the silence filled with care, not neglect,
The space where individualities are met with grace.
It’s in the moments we least expect,
Love shows its true face.
In the tenderness of holding hands,
In actions small and grand,
Love is respect that understands,
A language hearts can comprehend.
It’s not just in the grand gestures or days bright,
But in the shadows, in the quiet night,
Respect is the guiding light,
Making love’s burden wonderfully light.
For in the end, what makes us reflect,
On a life well-lived, with no regret,
Is how we loved, how we connect,
And in every heartbeat, love is respect.
— @Inkwell Penumbra
Author: C. Alexandria
Designer, developer, and digital content creator.