12.1.09 Love

Love
is the thorn on a string
between your heart and mine.

Love
means that when your heart aches,
mine pricks.
When you run away,
the cord stretches and pulls
and my heart begins to go with it,
pulling away from my here-and-now,
taking my brain with it
toward you and your wayward flight.
While my worried stomach anchors me
stretched and sick with a bottomless sinking feeling.

Love
is suffering.
Love
is sacrifice.

Love is when I am in need,
even when you are angry with me,
even when you say we are done,
you come through for me,
come running to protect me.

Love gets angry.
Love shows up.
Love listens.
Love speaks up.

And it was only when the cord stretched so long it grew numb
that I knew love was done.

You taught me that the opposite of love is not pain
but apathy.