I fear,

the love that I’ve been blessed with,

may never come

to those I hold most dear.

It grieves my soul

that love so far has flown by,

where empty hearts quietly await.

 

I’ve watch

the anguish of those pilgrims

who seized

too early or not wisely, empty love.

Mistaking wants

and loneliness for substance

then losing all,

bereft and stony bare.

 

Love has

so many faces to deceive us.

The old are tricked.

The young defenseless

against the lures of beauty,

strength, wit and arts’ seductive powers.

Tempting baits

for us poor nature driven beasts.

 

How then

to find love, recognize and seize it.

Woo, promise,

give and then live past

the troubled learning times.

Through the

fast rapids and whirlpools of life’s river.

To reach

the goal we seek,

a tranquil lake.

 

 

David Garlick, Victoria, December, 1994