If you can\u2019t love me in my upgrade,
Then don\u2019t even say you love me.
I\u2019m tired of the empty words that fall
Like promises you never meant to keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m a work in progress, a project still in motion,
I\u2019m not perfect, but I\u2019m real.
Can you see the struggle in my eyes,
Or will you leave when the road gets steep?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not asking for forever,
Just for you to stay through the storms.
Can you love me when I\u2019m messy,
When I\u2019m trying to grow into the best form?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not a finished puzzle,
I\u2019m still figuring out the pieces.
So, if you can\u2019t handle my transformation,
Then don\u2019t tell me you\u2019ll love me in all of my seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need someone who sees the cracks,
The moments when I\u2019m barely holding on,
Not someone who disappears when I need them most,
But someone who stands beside me, strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can\u2019t accept me when I\u2019m changing,
When I\u2019m still learning what I\u2019m worth,
Then don\u2019t even bother saying those words,
Because love means more than just empty comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But here\u2019s the thing:
You hurt when I grow, when I change for the better,
As if this version of me somehow means I\u2019m lesser.
You loved me when I was small, when I was weak,
But now you see me growing, and suddenly you don\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s dangerous, holding on to people who want us to stay small,
Who are committed to loving the lower version of us,
Because you\u2019re not loving me, you\u2019re loving the chains
That keep me tied down afraid to break free, afraid of the gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you love me, don\u2019t clip my wings,
Don\u2019t tell me I can\u2019t soar higher than these things.
Don\u2019t box me in or limit my rise,
Because I can\u2019t stay small for love\u2019s disguise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can\u2019t say you love me for everything I am,
But still expect me to shrink to stay in the sand.
I deserve to grow, I deserve to expand,
To become everything I was meant to be, to take a stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understand that who I am today is only going to get better,
I\u2019m just getting started, and I\u2019ll keep getting better forever.
Can you love me in my upgrade?
Because this version of me? It\u2019s just a phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can\u2019t love me in the struggle,
Then don\u2019t tell me you love me at all.
Love isn\u2019t just about the good times,
It\u2019s about standing strong when I fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you can\u2019t, then don\u2019t even say it,
Because I deserve someone who\u2019ll stay.
Love me in my upgrade,
Or don\u2019t love me at all, okay?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
End.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you can\u2019t love me in my upgrade,Then don\u2019t even say you love me.I\u2019m tired of the empty words that fallLike promises you never meant to keep. I\u2019m a work in progress, a project still in motion,I\u2019m not perfect, but I\u2019m real.Can you see the struggle in my eyes,Or will you leave when the road […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-27-171708.png?fit=438%2C596&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2745,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/leave-me-alone-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":3023,"position":0},"title":"Leave Me Alone by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Please, if you don\u2019t have good intentions for me,Just let me go, just let me be.Don\u2019t string me along, don\u2019t play with my heart,I\u2019m already fragile, already falling apart. I\u2019m tired, so tired, of trying to stay strong,Of pretending I\u2019m fine when everything\u2019s wrong.I don\u2019t have the strength to endure\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"person standing near lake","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-670720.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-670720.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-670720.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-670720.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-670720.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2700,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/tired-of-temporary-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":3023,"position":1},"title":"Tired of Temporary by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm done with the ones who come and go,Like whispers in the wind, fading slow.I've had enough of hollow promises,Of people who vanish when the storm rises. I need someone who stays, who\u2019s real,Not just words but someone who feels,Who lifts me up when the world feels low,Who helps me\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"photo of woman sitting on floor","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3007355.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3007355.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3007355.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-3007355.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3497,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/let-me-tell-you-the-kind-of-love-i-want\/","url_meta":{"origin":3023,"position":2},"title":"\u00a0\u201cLet Me Tell You the Kind of Love I Want\u201d","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Let me tell youthe kind of love I want. Not the loud kind.Not the one that hurts and then apologizes.Not the one that makes me feel like I\u2019m too muchfor asking to be treated gently. 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I've given my\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"woman with eyes closed reflecting in wet mirror","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-6757341.jpeg?fit=762%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-6757341.jpeg?fit=762%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-6757341.jpeg?fit=762%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-6757341.jpeg?fit=762%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2823,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/a-cry-for-true-love-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":3023,"position":4},"title":"A Cry for True Love by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"December 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Every time I trust someone with my heart,It feels like the pieces fall further apart.I give my all, my soul, my best,But I\u2019m left with silence, a secret at best. Rejections come like waves on the shore,Leaving me wondering if I deserve more.Am I the problem? Am I to blame?Why\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poem"","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"woman in black leather jacket holding smartphone","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6414900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6414900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6414900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6414900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6414900.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3274,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/i-am-not-ready-to-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":3023,"position":5},"title":"I AM NOT READY TO LOVE.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"May 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"So...I\u2019ve been thinking.And honestly,I need to tell you something,even if it\u2019s a little hard to say. Lately,everything feels like too much.Not just us,but life, in general. You see,when we talk a lot,I start to feel overwhelmed.At first, I\u2019m all in.But after a while,my mind fills up.And then,the words slip right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poem"","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3587401b1595867ea1d0b02a2b289d63.jpg?fit=236%2C419&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3023"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3027,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3023\/revisions\/3027"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}