Love⁓✨

Free Verse

✨

Author's Note

Artwork: Amoré by Andrew Gonzalez - Gesso and oil on board.

All well-meant constructive critique is welcomed. ✍🏼

Reviews

[Susan 🦋]

I don't think words could read any more beautifully than those you have written. How true, love is selfless, pure and sustaining. There is no force greater than genuine love and nothing that could ever come between. It is the beating of life in our veins that will embrace and nurture a soul. It is a precious gift and there is nothing greater. Though, I believe, love starts from within and that which radiates ...seekers find. :-) Just a lovely write Richard! I so enjoyed this. (artwork is quite fitting too... a blending, how perfect)

[Richard🖌]

Gripping words, Susan💫

Upon receiving such a laudable review as this one, a bard can rest assured he's reached, touched, and pleased at least one of his readers in exactly the ways he intended.

How beautiful that is!
Thank you ever-so warmly, Dear Poetess! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Quietstorm]

"It will know you...
Even though
you do not know yourself
and until you do" this line really stood out for me. I enjoyed reading this piece. Thanks for sharing

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Dear Poetess 🥀

You have truly honored my humble efforts by selecting this Free Verse piece to read and comment on; especially, with such a complex theme.
Harmoniously speaking, you've selected one of my favorite verses to highlight … kindred spirits dance as one.

You are most gratefully welcome.
And, I thank You ever-so warmly for enjoying! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Quietstorm]

You're most welcome!

[Kaye]

Wow, this is so beautiful, love the artwork again. Awesome write

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Kaye 👋

Thanks for dropping-in to read and review this rather philosophical Free Verse defining my version of love, and certainly for wonderfully inspiring accolades.

Happy early Autumn! ⁓ Richard 🍂

[Lisasview]

Hi Richard,
Ohhhh, LOVE, is such a fickle thing ... From our first puppy love onto our romantic love and finally if we are lucky ... to our intimate love, which can be ever lasting. If we are lucky ...
I have been known to say " What's love got to do with it?" As I have loved many over my years and have learned that love is more than just the word love.. if that makes any sense..
For me true love encompasses many things.
You poem expresses so clearly the gem that love is ..
I love the image and the way your beautiful words spilled over your page and into my heart..
Lisa, now in Spain

[Richard🖌]

Salutations, Lady-Poet ✍

Your span of love's experiences encompasses and embraces and radiates great learned wisdom and expertise … it's no wonder you compose such a sweeping vista of heart-dancing poetry.
And yes, Lisa, what you say makes perfect (and, relatable) sense.

Thank you ever-so gratefully for loving and praising anything about my humble poetic efforts … hugs to you! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Lisasview]

Your poems dear Richard are always so amazing.
Even your reviews and responses to my reviews are poetic. You are blessed with such a wonderful gift (not to say you do not work hard to get things just right..) I am in awe and appreciate all you help.
Always, Lisa

[Ranger Kessel]

I enjoyed the read but the font was a little difficult for me to get around. Apologies. Thanks for posting

[Richard🖌]

Thank you for your review, Sir Poet,

And, for letting me know about the font, for, if the font the poem is presented in was difficult for you, I can't imagine you could have derived much enjoyment from it.
You're the only reader who's mentioned the font issue, so, I'm left wondering if there are others, too?
In any event, Here the poem is in a plain block font … I hope this helps to improve your experience:

"LOVE"
~to seekers~

Love hall seek not....
but for its own satisfaction
and will not be easily swayed
from its course.

It will....
bend and twist you
and shine and dim upon you
while holding onto those within its grip.

Until....
they become pliant and giving
trusting and alive
with its genuine and crystal-clear vision.

It will know you....
even though
you do not know yourself
and until you do.

It cannot....
be captured
and will not be controlled
by anything other than love itself.

It shall not....
be fooled
nor can it be substituted
or replaced.

For....
Love is sufficient unto Love
and can be known only
to itself.

Nothing known can destroy genuine Love.

Love....
will warmly embrace you
but only upon finding you worthy
to its demanding task.

Until that occasion....
you will ever be seekers
of this lustrous gem we call –

"LOVE"


Richard W. Jenkins
©2006
"There is no single answer to the question of what love really is,
but this I have found it is to me – perhaps, now to you!"


May life 'n love shine brightly upon thee! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Ranger Kessel]

Dude thanks for that. I did enjoy it. I cant see that well and I am admittedly old school on fonts. You are a good writer

[Richard🖌]

You are welcome you, Sir,
Thank you sincerely for your compliment … it is encouraging

It was my delight to accommodate you. : )

[Temperance]

Wow, Richard...Carlos says it so well in his review. We all seek that mutual true love. In the meantime, love is divine and, yet painful at the same time. We think we have found it and then, it's gone. We can only control what we give but, not how it is received by them. We have all given unrequited love....I'm sure of it. Makes one pause and think about one's own adventure with love. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful piece of poetry. Temp

[Richard🖌]

Yes, Temp,

I agree … Carlos says it far better and more poetically than I.
I very much like your take and shared wisdom on love, too.
It pleases me to know my poem on love has inspired such enlightening comments.

You are most welcome, Temp, and I thank you, as-well! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Richard... I have found every line to be true. Love is like a Plant to be nourished as a Rose with early morning Dew until the Sun sets, and even in the Moonlit hours... Love has it's powers. tenderly, Pat

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Lady Pat 🙏

Your sentiments reveal ever-so sweetly and completely you've known and embraced love in all its glorious detail … and, oh-sooo poetically lovely you tell it, too. ; )

Hugs for your darlin' heart! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

A thought inducing piece that seeks to answer the emotional riddle we call love. I often think love is an endless sea that moves through life like a river. Spreading outwards like a creek, and is reflected in the tears we weep. It is a complex enigma, and yet a simplistic emotion. You can control the love you give, but never the love you receive. It is the thing of poetry and creativity, and yet can be destructive and chaotic. And like you said there is no true answer to this emotion, it simply must be experienced in order to know it. Love is a lifetime journey to what defines our better humanity. Thank you Richard for sharing this enlightened piece of poetry.

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Carlos 🔆

it is I who thank you, My Friend.
I like your version of love better then my own … perhaps, I should copy/paste it over the original.
This is the true mystery of love, everyone has their own feeling and belief; for, love is personal and sacred to each heart that it embraces … who's to say what the genuine truth of true love is, where it comes from, or why it exists at all?
There are many theories, but which is correct, if any? Many questions, uncountable numbers of stories and poems of how love feels, what it does, how irresistible it is … on and on the mystery remains unsolved; yet, we passionately seek, desire, and crave its lustrous union, nonetheless.

Thank you, again, Carlos, for reading and for sharing your exciting version of "Love"! ⁓ Richard🖌