Love As it stands: Over our heads Enraptures the frail heart With incipient dread. What is to be In a world without thee, But a standalone, A reflection, Of what was and will be? One cannot love, As that adage goes. Unless, first, inner peace Quells ignorant woes As any person happy alone Can tell you and knows. But the pangs of hypocrisy From the word itself --Excuse my incredulity— Love springs alive Only when L stands with O-V-E. What’s more, Love’s a test Aesthetic selfishness A prolonged adventure To feel good in this skin. Even when we feel Love We do not tolerate Thoughts of two. See, only one “I” In “I love you,” I’m at the center Of “you’re my love,” And “you make me feel…” The fact one could lie to the love of their life Makes me reel. So a multithought-gasp-is love! And rife with paradox Inconsistent and vitalized. How can I be so cynical To break apart rosy airs And leave only a shocking nothing? Dear friend, there’s something in Love Let’s break it down into its funny little parts L’s for libido O ****** V is for vice and E ******. A nice little formula For the fawny neurotic Take it with you and shout and play Let it be a comfort On St. Valentine’s Day.