what is love?

a brief analogy

love is a student, love is a teacher
the congregation and the preacher
a rusty nail in a brand new tire
the steam from water cast upon fire
love is a frown, love is a smile
a waste of time, an endeavor worthwhile
a slap on the bottom of a newborn child
strong and dangerous, meek and mild
love is forever, love is no more
a piece of candy in a hardware store
the mess you step in out in the yard
it's way too easy, it's too damned hard
love is an angel, love is a sinner
a crying loser and a laughing winner
the wrong turn into the right direction
utter chaos and perfection
love is a noise, love is a song
love is so right and so, so wrong
the shortest day, the longest night
deafness, blindness, hearing and sight
love is sorrow, love is bliss
the kiss of death and a passionate kiss
love is giving, the act of sharing
looking away and wantonly staring
love is a tunnel, love is a bridge
leftover chicken inside the fridge
the burn on the bacon, the sweet in the tea
a slave in shackles, a soul who is free
love is a child, afraid of the dark
an exclamation, a question mark
a sail full of wind on a dead-calm sea
a tropical forest, a naked tree
love is a rainbow with a pot of gold
the car on the lot that never gets sold
a courageous avenger wearing a mask
that important question you forgot to ask
love is a cure, a deadly disease
a man standing tall and a man on his knees
a badge of honor for an act of shame
love is so serious, love is a game
love is a question, love is an answer
a villain, a killer, a sweet romancer
the highest mountain covered with snow
being all dressed up with nowhere to go
love is safety, love is danger
love is love with a total stranger
being together, being alone
punishment for the punches you've thrown
love is real, love is fake
a burger and fries without a shake
love is getting her home before dawn
and helping her put her panties back on
love is confusion, absolute clarity
allowing sex as an act of charity
complete disclosure without confessing
feigning no interest as your lover's undressing
love is serenity, love is panic
feeling saintly while behaving satanic
a horrible nightmare, a wonderful dream
a bowl full of peaches without any cream
love is a b*****d, a beautiful son
knowing you've lost, knowing you've won
a taste of forever, a flash in the pan
believing you can't while believing you can
love is dog s**t, love is a flower
a beautiful princess in an ivory tower
the charming prince, the villain in black
the boomerang that won't come back
love is a whisper, love is a shout
a lick and a promise, a flicker of doubt
the light from a candle, a darkened room
feeling salvation and impending doom
love is acceptance, love is denial
the unquestioned verdict preceding the trial
throwing our coins in the wishing well
we make it our heaven, make it our hell
love is lamb chops without mint jelly
rubbing a puppy on his belly
nacho chips after you've run out of cheese
jumping into the fire only to freeze
love is a promise, love is a lie
giving freely without asking why
a beautiful painting, a stain on the wall
the shadowy figure at the end of the hall
love is together, love is apart
love is the break in your still beating heart
call it lucidity, call it insane
do you have the courage to call it by name?
love is not owning, love is possession
love is pursuing your fondest obsession
unbridled emotion, incessantly sought
it can't be borrowed, can't be bought
the start of a journey, the end of the line
a blind intersection with no warning sign
it can't be bargained, never beaten
that pie in the oven, forgotten, uneaten
love is a nuisance, a fly on the wall
a t**d in the punchbowl at a fancy dress ball
an act of contrition, a cruel twist of fate
the cavalry arriving one hour too late
love is salvation, love is sweet bliss
a succulent virgin, that first tender kiss
the promise of passion, fulfillment of joy
desire, expectation...oh, how they annoy!
love is the music you feel in your heart
the song never written for lack of a start
an opera unfinished, a symphony dark
the fire won't burn if you don't feed the spark
love is an ocean, an infinite sky
we learn how to swim, learn how to fly
it's gratification, relentless remorse
we can't ride in the saddle without mounting the horse
love has no agenda, no limits, no pride
it can't be released if kept locked inside
if love is not given it won't be received
for love to have substance it must be believed
love is a curse, love is a prayer
love is a savior, love is a slayer
a ritual practiced by all of mankind
the answer to emptiness few ever find
love is hate, love is love
a vicious hawk and a peaceful dove
love is poor, love is rich
ain't love grand? ain't love a b***h?

Reviews

[realmwriter]

Love is everything we ever wanted and nothing we ever had
love is a child laughing and giggling at their funny dad
love is the beginning and the end of a relationship that had to begin
love is the one emotion we cant get enough of and confuse for fear
love is puppy the size of an iphone love is the deftone, a sleep, a wink, and a nod
love is being lost and knowing where you are
Love is the brink of blowing up your car

I really like this piece. It flows very well and the metaphors are well thought out. I also really like all of the opposites you use as it often felt in exactly that way.

[quinfinn]

you are a writing genius, and should write your own "what is love" poem....this is superb ...thank you!

[realmwriter]

I actually have just don't remember the title at the moment but it is somewhere in my list of writings...! Thank you very much quinn. You amaze us daily with your skill and talent. As far as I can see, it needs no polishing...

[quinfinn]

you are too kind, send me those r/r's....i am good for it.

[realmwriter]

I will do so my friend. I would ask the same of you but I am horrible at the rrs so if you would like me to read a piece of yours, as I would like to read them. Inbox me and I'll get right on it...! Thank you

[quinfinn]

no problem

[B.J]

Perfectly worded Life encircled around love. Brilliant.

[shallimarRose]

I thought you were gone for awhile .. Quinn this is soooo long and soooo good... The rhyme is fantastic and the message.. Well love is all encompassing.. Love is everything... Wonderful piece here Quinn.. xo

[quinfinn]

i am gone for a while, in fact, i may decide to stay gone for quite some time....i haven't posted anything in over a month...just checking my pm's and page every day. glad you liked the piece.

[shallimarRose]

Oh I thought this was new.. Friendbust just closed down have you ever been there? I never joined but many from myspace had moved there.. Hope to see ya when and if you come back. xo Rose

[Hana Saemon]

the two sides of love juxtaposed. Perfectly described!

[quinfinn]

thank you so much for stopping by!

[Acucena G.]

what a wonderful poem you have here. Thanks for sharing with us this great piece of work.

[quinfinn]

thank you for reading. when i first wrote this it had another twenty two stanzas...i shortened it, alas , it is still too long to glean much interest. i owe you some reads, please send your requests!!!

[Ankita]

I call it a Happy poetry, a piece that will always make u smile. Well written. I wish the poem had never ended and love could have many more definitions given by you.

[quinfinn]

i am so very pleased that you enjoyed this piece, thank you!

[Darkening Shadow]

This is a great poem. I love how it is opposites that describe love. I also love the concept of the how many different think love can be. Great Poem!

[quinfinn]

thank you so much, Paiger...my request line is open,,,,,

[Inda]

"What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me..no more."
lol
In all seriousness though this piece is fantastic,from beginning it feels like you took the reader by the hand the whole time and the at the end you let go. Great piece!

[quinfinn]

generous praise, Inda, thank you!

[DCT ponderings]

Love is fragile at its very best.

Quinn My favorite comic series has always been Love is...by Kim Caseli. So it will be of no surprise that this is going into my favorites. Incredible write.

I will point out that you did step in it twice and once it was floating in the bowl. That was the only repetition I saw or was I simply looking though my own filter. ;)

[quinfinn]

i remember the "love is" syndication...my cousin Linda cut them out, had every damned one of them in a scrapbook...yeh, i got a little "s****y" more than once, but then, love has been that way for me on more than one occasion....thank you so much for this wonderful review and trip down memory lane.

[DCT ponderings]

No thank you for the trip down memory lane. It has been awhile....:)

[quinfinn]

;)

[Saumya]

this was realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly fantabulous........................!!!!!!y y very very ver!!!!
loved it a lotttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt......!!!!!!!1
reading this was a reallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly grand feeeling,
i must say this......
"very very very very very well done.....!!!!!!!!"
hats off

very eloquent.....and......
beautiful......!!!!!
loved it alot.....!!!!

take care,
with best wishes,
saumya

[quinfinn]

thank you so much for your wonderful comments, glad you enjoyed my poetry.....

[Saumya]

you are highly welcomed my dear friend.....!! :)

[Pax]

Love in all faces, forms, duality, reality, emotions, and all in all it is a mark that we all have in our heart since the dawn of civilization.... it's been there all along to descover and uncover its mysterious ways or the cliche's but still surprise us in anyway we least expected... love can be an old end or a new beginning... still it's an awesome feeling! i love it... the rhyme was amazing!

[quinfinn]

good to see you, Pax. thank you for stopping by

[Pax]

your most welcome... hope all is good my friend...

[quinfinn]

all will be okay......