the gift

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