How is Love

It is not a furious, passionate fire

Consuming and raging for all of time

For the precious forest is soon burned up

And lustful, quick burning flames will die

It is not a flashing, sparkling firework

Whistling and exploding to light up the night

For the brilliant colors will soon fade away

And bitter, sulfurous smoke remains

It is a drop of cool, clean water

Dousing and cooling the angry coals

For the sake of another it douses a fire

And its kind, selfless sacrifice remembered

It is a twinkling, shining star

Winking and whispering way up in the sky

For all of eternity it shines boldly forth

And is gentle, constant for all of its years

Love is a need and desire

To stay close to someone, now and forever

Not obsessive, not restricting

Not something to take without a second thought

But it is something to be given

And gratefully received

Sweet and selfless and never blind

Love is always, always, always kind