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

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

Great piece... the duality of love broken down more ways than the reader can keep track of... but all relevant and precise.

[quinfinn]

yeh, i know it's a bit lengthy.....thank you so much for taking the time to read and review!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

no prob... my pen hand has a tendency to get carried away on paper, so trust i can relate. the trick is holding the reader captive til the last word... you did that well here!

[quinfinn]

thank you, so much...my request line stays open to my friends.....

[Caradoc]

Miracles and atrocities.

Yup. Love is grand, damning as easily as it saves.

Excellent piece.

-Caradoc

[quinfinn]

thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

[Caradoc]

You're most welcome.

[dw817]

Wholly smacks that's a lot ! Needs to have a bit o' whitespace in there for separation maybe. And it rhymes ! Yay ! I love rhyming poetry.

How does RATING work and what does it affect ? Maybe I can start rating some of your poems cause they are pretty neat !

And no, love is not a beech - love is - that one immeasurable substance in the universe that can only be received in the heart by giving it from the soul. :)

[quinfinn]

there is wisdom in your words...and rating is not important unless you underscore a write....personally, i rarely ever score anyone below 94%...and most writes get between 97 and 99....i never give 100% unless i am completely blown away by a write...i have been here for two years and i think i have done that maybe 5 times....thank you....

[dw817]

Does it chomp up points or something to rate I guess I'm asking then ? I never did figure out what points are for yet ?

[Sami Khalil]

All the dualities of love written in a wonderful form of poetry...:)

[quinfinn]

thank you Sami....

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)

[Zahra]

the shortest day, the longest night

deafness, blindness, hearing and sight

So true, very well penned. Different faces of love.

[quinfinn]

thank you so much, Voice....

[Coyote Poetry]

Love is many things. In my old age. Kids and dogs are the only one's who love me. I feed the dogs and I take the kids to the park. A entertaining poem. Love become different with time. Last line is fact. Thank you for the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[quinfinn]

thank you so much for reading and commenting, John

[Lee Rhodes]

This is absolutely beautiful! I'm going to add this to my library

[quinfinn]

well, thank you very much!

[Soranda-Jenae]

I'd be lying if I said I'm not jealous. It's brilliant.

[quinfinn]

thank you, Zoey...you just made a new friend!

[Soranda-Jenae]

Pleased to make your acquaintance! :)

[quinfinn]

likewise, where is your avatar? no photo yet?

[Soranda-Jenae]

Don't want one. :)

[quinfinn]

ok

[icelandicblue]

This is an absolutely stunning poem. The wisdom flows along both sides of the coin. Love does indeed have two faces and you've captured them both with complete clarity here.

[quinfinn]

thank you so much, blue. some folk whine that this one is too long....there was a lot to say that needed to be included though. actually i trimmed it down by about 14 more stanzas before posting. i appreciate the read.

[icelandicblue]

If you think it's too long don't read it. I thought it was wonderful that you came up with so many examples and none of them felt like filler. ; )

[quinfinn]

exactly, thank you so much!

[Angel]

Love is truth, love is fiction
Love is a bundle of contradiction...

Sorry, you got me "in the muse"...
I really, really love this one.
I think I'd like to add it to my Library, if I may?

[quinfinn]

of course you may...thank you very much

[Angel]

LOL, you sent me another r/r, Hun!!