the gift of love is our ultimate freedom
a gift only ours for the giving
we may not buy love or sell it
we may not demand or steal it from another
love is priceless and beyond theft
love arrives unannounced
sometimes taking us completely by surprise
a joyous gift from the universe
a deep well, a bubbling spring
the wild white waters of untamed emotion
to share this bounty with the beloved
becomes our greatest desire
how fortunate are they who love
where they are loved in return
we gaze, we sigh, we admire
our love can do no wrong
this then is the first stage of love
at first love is mostly selfish
this person makes us happy
we feel warm and contented
their company pleases and amuses us
time passes and if we are careful
gentle and cherishing
our love will continue to grow
sending roots downwards, outwards
gaining encouragement
from the nourishment of fidelity
our love deepens, our vision widens
our desires are less for our needs
we wish for more for our beloved
for their happiness, their satisfaction
we long to protect them from harm
to supply their every need
to offer them joy in every day life
peace grows in our heart
we begin to imagine a future
a sharing, a togetherness
an always and forever
this then is the second stage of love
we are ready to offer the loved one
commitment
we desire to proclaim our loving partnership
before our family and friends
to share the inevitability of our love
with a world less interested
commitment requires long term, logical thought
in a way, the very antithesis of love
we must look deep into our heart
and apply the gift of our mind
to the future of our relationship
we must know, we must decide
this is the one, my love mate
the companion of my days
the lover of my nights
the one with whom i would forever share
the triumphs and tribulations of life's road
the one whose tears will mingle with mine
in sadness
whose laughter will peal out with mine
in joy
i accept this person as my future
and their future as my own
i will care for those they love
i will be there for them in the dark hours
i will set aside the instability of my emotions
embracing this one person
promising my forever
this then is the third stage of love
and so we promise, we commit
the wonderful and rewarding journey begins
for the offering of true love
of faithful heart, physical fidelity
unending intellectual devotion
is a commitment to our beloved
and a gift of wonder to ourselves
day by day we learn to share
to feel irritation and accept
to feel anger and put it aside
to feel hurt and not require revenge
to march through the bad times
head down, one foot in front of the other
pausing only to extend our hand
to offer encouragement to our beloved
to dance through the good times
hand in hand, grateful for the togetherness
of love
we will need to learn new lessons
discovering that forgiving is easy
whilst forgetting is not
understanding that there will be times
of distance, of doubt, segments of time
in which we might forget our love
our passion, our undying devotion
we might forget many things
but never, our commitment
our decision to join our lives together
to share all that life might throw at us
the commitment of our heart, our body, our mind
supplies the foundation for eternal love
love which will continue to grow
to deepen, to blossom
becoming so beautiful, so strong, so real
our understanding will expand
our selfishness lessen
we will learn the love of forever
for today and for tomorrow
unquestioned, inviolate
this then is the truth of love
Copyright © 2004-2009 by Eryll Oellermann
