January 29, 2015
Dear Subscriber:
This week’s poem of the week contrasts two views of love.
You can hear me read the poem and listen to the music for it at my site by going to http://www.poemsforfree/week.html.
Yours,
Nick Gordon
A LOVE DUET FOR TWO VOICES
ONE
Let me love you as I would,
Not as you will nor as I should.
For love, to linger, must be free,
And what you wish for isn’t me.
TWO
You might love me as you would,
But I must spurn you, as I should.
For though love is a choice that’s free,
Once made, it means that you love me.
ONE
Only you? I might love two,
Or three or four. As might you.
For love will ever have its way,
Regardless what we do or say.
TWO
Those who say that they love two
Love only one—themselves. For you
Confuse desire with love, whose way
Is willed, regardless what you say.
ONE
Is willed? Confuse love with desire?
But what is love without the fire?
A cage in which two birds expire,
Each to each a gutless liar.
TWO
Love begins, yes, as desire,
But then one must maintain the fire,
Lest it, lacking care, expire,
Making one a faithful liar.
BOTH
On this point we both agree:
Love loves not dishonesty.
ONE
But some would love upon the sea,
TWO
While some would love more vertically,
That past and future rooted be
In one well-tended, fruitful tree.
© by Nicholas Gordon
Dear Subscriber:
This week’s poem of the week contrasts two views of love.
You can hear me read the poem and listen to the music for it at my site by going to http://www.poemsforfree/week.html.
Yours,
Nick Gordon
A LOVE DUET FOR TWO VOICES
ONE
Let me love you as I would,
Not as you will nor as I should.
For love, to linger, must be free,
And what you wish for isn’t me.
TWO
You might love me as you would,
But I must spurn you, as I should.
For though love is a choice that’s free,
Once made, it means that you love me.
ONE
Only you? I might love two,
Or three or four. As might you.
For love will ever have its way,
Regardless what we do or say.
TWO
Those who say that they love two
Love only one—themselves. For you
Confuse desire with love, whose way
Is willed, regardless what you say.
ONE
Is willed? Confuse love with desire?
But what is love without the fire?
A cage in which two birds expire,
Each to each a gutless liar.
TWO
Love begins, yes, as desire,
But then one must maintain the fire,
Lest it, lacking care, expire,
Making one a faithful liar.
BOTH
On this point we both agree:
Love loves not dishonesty.
ONE
But some would love upon the sea,
TWO
While some would love more vertically,
That past and future rooted be
In one well-tended, fruitful tree.
© by Nicholas Gordon
No comments:
Post a Comment