On Love

      Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."
      And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:
      When love beckons to you follow him,
      Though his ways are hard and steep.
      And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
      Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him,
      Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
      For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
      Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
      So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
      He threshes you to make you naked.
      He sifts you to free you from your husks.
      He grinds you to whiteness.
      He kneads you until you are pliant;
      And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
      All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
      But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
      Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
      Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
      Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
      Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."
      And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
      Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
      But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
      To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
      To know the pain of too much tenderness.
      To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
      And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
      To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
      To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
      To return home at eventide with gratitude;
      And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.  

--from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Comment: How can you argue with any of that? And if I'm doing love to death, so what? So did my guru S. Freud. After all, that's what the old boy was writing about most of the time: Love & Death. But Love foremost. Its tantamount to Life. Without it where is it...?

What Love actually is is endless. Its music silence peace madness drunkenness mistakes elegance sorrow elation; your eyes as you look at me, thru me; desiring your buttocks as your stalk away in glorious anger; the sound of your voice; your absence; your surprise visit making me so damn happy I could die crying at your feet, laughing at the same time.

Come to me. I'll not take you for granted. I'd be the best thing that ever happened to you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. Its all as if an illusion, if you must see things that way. I'm more of a true believer.

"The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one." -- Joan Baez

Tell me about it. Sounds like somebody I know. Performers. Hard to love. But they need it so very very much. Its hard to let go once you know. Being that very special one to them takes courage.  You have to be worthy. Take a stand. If they don't tell you to get lost then they need you to stick around. Take them at face value. Accept their eccentricities. Otherwise jealously will get you in the end. The love of a person will turn to hate. Damn performers...But their lovers are special too. Takes a special relationship. A special couple with more on the ball then just two bodies in a storm of stimulus & response. Though the storm can be beautiful. Common goals are important. Collaboration. Making beautiful music together. I won't abandon ship so easily. You really must deeply love the vessel. Be willing to go down if that's required. But would rather sail smooth as glass sunny diamond twinkling seas. Its all an adventure. You're either up for it, or retire & write your memoirs.

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Just for the record...

Body & Soul

[Tony:]
My heart is sad and lonely,
For you I sigh, for you, dear, only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you, body and soul

[Amy:]
I spend my days in longing,
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it
I'm all for you, body and soul

[Tony:]
I can't believe it, it's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance

[Amy:]
Are you pretending, it looks like the ending
Unless I could have one more chance to prove, dear

[Tony:]
My life a wreck you're making

[Amy:]
You know I'm yours just for the taking

[Both:]
I'd gladly surrender, myself to you, body and soul

[INSTRUMENTAL (4 Bars)]

[Tony:]
Are you pretending, it looks like the ending
Unless I could have one more chance to prove, dear

[Amy:]
My life a wreck you're making

[Tony:]
You know I'm yours for just the taking

[Both:]
I'd gladly surrender, myself to you, body and soul

--song written by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton  (lyrics)  ; and music by Johnny Green.

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