Love is like a badger
Heart's charge is to itself 'fore the heart's charge
Into someone else's heart and enlarge
the scope for destruction and anger, hurt
Her eyes and his met once, she was so curt
He liked it that way, liked her that way too
Is not love this taking her curt and new?
Delighting as she is, a neutral thing
Love is natural, his dad said, a ring
Will fit any finger if you wake it.
Desire plays with lives, the fire once lit
Burns, and will cost you dearly to put out,
From the dyke the water bursts with no spout,
A badger sleeps deep, but woken is fierce
So love will never harm you but only pierce
And crush and maim and break the one you love
and loved she will return this same above,
Though loving, hurt is loving, He must be hurt
She must hurt him, and only then assert
His love. O daughters of Zion, my charge!
Do not awaken love, do not enlarge,
Until it so desires. Then hurt him,
Meaning, love him, 'til all life at last dim.
posted by Steven at 3:33 PM
2 Comments:
Dearest brother of mine. Just got to this poem; it has been a busy week.
What I love about this poem is that it invites re-readings; I feel that I can't quite grasp it all the first time through. All good poetry should be re-read. I like your meter too...it's a solid rhythm...and then when you break the meter it makes the phrase stand out even more.
Beautiful, delicate language! I love it!
7:25 PM
joni's comment after i read it to her, "he must be in love..."
fav line: "desire plays with lives, the fire once lit / burns, and will cost you dearly to put out"
i like the middle the best. some really good metaphors for love, its costs, its power, and its danger.
1:38 PM
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