Knowing Love

We love and are loved, a
human need transcending
all others. We have been
granted by fate, fortune and
destiny the greatest treasure
that life offers. That offer
fully understood, that to have
and to hold one must be
prepared to give wholly of
oneself, to transcend ourselves
and our selfish emotions.

Nature's formulaic prescription
of emotions too often confused
so we misunderstand need
and greed, the directives of
survival overwhelming the
heart of the matter. Leaving
an inchoate residue of
melancholic regret and an
incomplete passage through life.

For those for whom the bonds
of silken threads fastening us
steadfastly to the life of another,
the journey has a mellow, joyful
melody of sublime provenance
and reward. The virtue is within
the trusting equal surrender. Do
the gods of love truly laugh at
what tender fools mortals be,
then they know not true love.