A one way street

Does your hunger to be loved

lead you to look for the food of recognition?

Is it a selfish trade gloved, shoved

to satisfy your masked ambition?

Saying “I love you”, do you wait to hear “I love you too”?

Isn't it lustful to steal happiness from another's smile?

Those we care for cause us the most pain it is true

why subject your chosen to the taste of your bile?

Are you willing to be hated by the one you love to guarantee their joy?

Can you put your need to be loved behind?

Love is felicity in sacrifice not freedom to destroy

To give more than all that you find

You are responsible for everything you love

Not only life but your happiness would you offer for another,

satisfying all their whims and infant tirades,

crucified for their sins suffering the pains of the greatest lover, a mother?

Reviews

[Soren]

Your prowess as a poet allows you to see rapidly the core of this piece. I think that there are far greater sacrifices than life. When I read "A tale of two cities" it became evident to me that Dickens saw this too. I too with grown children and grand children face this. If it provoked questioning in a mind it has served its purpose. I thank you so much Carl for your read. I deeply value your responses as one I consider to be a serious poet of such competence yourself.

[carl]

Interesting - we think of laying down your life for another as the supreme sacrifice, and I understand the source of that and I see the extremeness of it. But day upon day, incident upon incident of giving love to one who does not return in like is in some ways a greater sacrifice and one that is possibly evidence of greater love. "can you put your need to be loved behind?" is a great question and one that requires greater consideration. Very thought provoking for me as a parent of five grown children. Unsure which side of this coin I am on. - thanks for the post - carl