Love is for all of us
Book News & Queer Joy
Happy Valentine’s Day! While the world may tell us that love looks a certain way—roses, candlelight, grand declarations—we know another truth: love is also weird, intimate, and rebellious. Love is not something reserved for a few. It is not limited by gender, by tradition, or by the approval of those in power.
Right now, the world feels increasingly dangerous for queer and trans folks. We are witnessing cruel legislation, harmful rhetoric, and systemic oppression that seeks to erase and diminish the lives and loves of so many. But love itself is an act of resistance. To continue loving, in all the ways we do, is to refuse erasure.
To exist in joy, in community, and in tenderness, is an act of defiance.
As a queer, polyamorous woman, with a large and diverse chosen family, I have lived in ways that defy societal expectations for many years, and I plan to continue to live that loudly for as long as it is possible.
Love is for ALL of us
I am honored to have a poem included in
’s upcoming anthology, Love is for All of Us: Poems of Tenderness and Belonging from the LGBTQ+ Community and Friends. This collection celebrates love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, communal, self-love, and love for nature.I am so excited to have my words included among those from poets like Andrea Gibson, Ellen Bass, Nikita Gill, Mark Doty, Audre Lorde, Richard Blanco, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Danez Smith, Joy Ladin, Carl Phillips, and Li-Young Lee. It is a testament to the beauty of queer love, chosen family, and the ways we hold and honor one another in an often unkind world.
Love & the Natural World
The love I write about often takes root in nature: the trees that lean toward one another, the mycelial networks that sustain entire forests, the way the tide pulls and releases the shore. Nature teaches us about reciprocity, about cycles of care, about interdependence. Love is not just something we give; it is something we live within.
As a queer writer and a religious naturalist, I find deep resonance in the idea that love, like the seasons, is fluid and evolving. It is not static or one-size-fits-all. It is as unique as the landscapes we move through and the bodies we inhabit.
In next week’s letter, I will tell you a bit more about my new book, Quietly Wild, that embraces these very themes! I am very excited to fill you in.
Creative Prompts
Today, I invite you to honor love in all its forms. Here are a few prompts to get you going.
1. Poetry Prompt: Write a love poem—It doesn’t have to be romantic. Write about a friend, a place, a moment of connection that felt like home.
2. Reflection Prompt: Think about a time when love showed up for you in an unexpected way. How did it change you? How did it shape your sense of belonging?
3. Visual Art Prompt: Create a small altar or art piece dedicated to the ways love exists in your life right now. Include symbols of care, community, and resilience.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments with poems, thoughts, or love <3
Love is for all of us. Today, and every day, may you feel held by it.
With love and queerness,
Alix
today's haiku for the Stafford Challenge
it is so easy
falling into an affair
with the plants I meet
Excited you are included. My poem "Father's Day" and accompanying essay - for my late son Alex - will debut in this anthology.