Valentine’s Day would lead us to believe that romantic love is the only love that’s worth celebrating. And every day of the year, societal ‘norms’ dictate that we’re only living a half-life until we’ve paired up – preferably in the heteronormative sense.

I’m single, and queer. I have my own home, my own business, and autonomy and independence in spades. I have many friends and family and a wonderful daughter and treasured pets. My life is full of love and connection. In fact, I suspect I experience even more meaningful connection than some couples, because I actively seek it out, aware that I need to build and nurture my own community for my mental health and happiness. I’m never complacent about it – and I know that just one person could never fulfil all my emotional needs.

So why don’t we celebrate platonic love? I mean, I could segue into an entirely different type of post with words like ‘patriarchy’, ‘capitalism’, ‘comphet’, and ‘fucking bullshit’, but I’d rather not scream into the void this evening. Let’s stick with love.

I could not survive without my women friends. They have seen me through good relationships, shitty ones, break-ups, family crises, celebrations, milestones, health scares, bereavements, and everything in between. Romantic and sexual liaisons have come and gone, but those friendships have endured.

Valentine’s Day (which has become a capitalistic load of nonsense) isn’t just for lovers. If we’re going to celebrate love, let’s at least celebrate it in all its forms. Friends. Siblings. Parents. Children.

Here, then, are four unromantic poems for Valentines’ Day – coincidentally, all by the same poet. (Give her a like on Instagram!) One is dedicated to my beloved daughter, the other to my friends.