Love—
The stuff of tabloids and Hollywood
Love—
The thing passed in folded papers with an
X and an O
Love—
The promise sealed in gold, circled as two crowns
They can be taken off; and papers can tear it apart
Love—
The dressy words of Shakespeare
The selfish dribble of Romeo and Juliet
Love—
The secret kiss muffled in a pillow
That fleeting daydream painted on school windows
Love—
That thing by the fire, held in the heart, worn on the finger
Received in a kiss, promised in a poem, sung in a verse
Wondered in a dream, lost in the cracks, left in the rain
Giggled on a telephone, shared by a friend,
Unconditional in the mind’s eye
Lost on the vain
Consecrated by the scorned—his arms outstretched
A north, south, east, west symbol.
Love.