Like Paper

Sometimes love is like paper.

Life
And love

They are as fragile
As a piece of paper.

When you rip them
You can tape them up.
But will they ever be
The same?

Bend them,
Fold them,
Twist them how you like.
But will they ever again
Be straight?

Impress them
Into your memories.
Impress your memories
Into them

For eternity.

But is eternity
Really for ever?

Dip it,
Soak it,
In hot water.
Will the ink you have so
Painstakingly engraved
Truly stay intact?

Or will it
Like life

Like love

Smear across the
Plain
White
Blank
Surface?

Will everything
You have constructed,
Everything
From scratch,
Stay steady
On its foundation?

Or will it,
Like the paper,
Slowly crumble
And obscure
Into dust?

Like paper
They can stay
In your pocket.
Unexposed to
Experience.

Pain.

Pleasure.

You can,
Like paper,
Leave them blank.
Leave them empty.
Not build on them.

You can,
Like paper,
Pretend they will last
Until the world
Collapses beneath you.

Like paper,
You can tear them up.
You can burn them.
You can throw them away,
Until they are no more.

Or like paper
You can cherish them
Always.
And treat them
Like something precious.

Because like paper
They are fragile.
They can be
Extinguished

So easily.

Though they
Are supposed to be,
Were meant to be,
So strong.

And I ask you again

Is eternity really forever?