By Gwen Romano

In the labyrinth of love, I find myself entwined,
Amidst the thorns and shadows, aching, undefined.
A tapestry of longing, woven with delicate art,
Yet every thread a bittersweet reminder of a wounded heart.

Like a symphony of whispers, the echoes softly sigh,
Through moments of elation, to the depths where sorrows lie.
The tender tendrils of affection, an exquisite pain they bear,
For love, a double-edged sword, cuts deep with utmost care.

With each beat, a tremor, an ache I cannot shed,
Embracing the ethereal, where roses bloom and wither,
I’m tangled in this dance, where pleasure mingles with despair,
A fragile equilibrium, a ballet in the midnight air.

The tendrils wrap around me, an intricate desire,
The sweetness tinged with longing, a flickering fire.
Yet in this love that hurts, I find a strange allure,
For even in the pain, love’s essence remains pure.

Oh, how the heart can yearn, in its anguish and its bliss,
A paradox unfolding, a labyrinth I can’t dismiss.
I’ll surrender to this tangle, embracing love’s decree,
For even in its agony, it whispers, “You are free.”

–

Gwen L. Romano, an 18-year-old student from Manila, Philippines, started writing at age 7—crafting fiction, fan-fiction, short stories, and poetry. As a young neurodivergent individual, writing became her solace from a tumultuous home life. Submitting some of her works for the first time, she hopes for an intriguing experience.