AGES AND STAGES OF LOVE

When I was a Lad of two and ten I let my heart take wing
Sending it out to rest with love
It returned smashed, torn and stomped flat
Such hurts heal quickly with the young and believing sort
Taking time only to heal and reinflate my heart I spent the next several years finding out the many ways to have one's heart broken
I could fill pages with descriptions of all manner of hurts my heart suffered
Instead let me pass along the knowledge I gained
Love is not without risk, it is not perfect and it certainly is not easily obtained
By the time I was a young man of eight and ten I had discovered several things
That love has to be cupped like the capture of a butterfly with care and patience
Allowed to breathe, ebb and flow like the tide
Be given it's own wings and the power to fly away in hopes that it will choose to stay
And now having reached a full one and forty I find my thirst for love unquenched
It always has been, I just had to know where to look and be patient enough to reach
Having found love is far easier than keeping love fresh and new
For love like friendship is a work in progress, never to be taken for granted
Untended love can get choked by the weeds of everyday life
Yes I work hard in my garden of friendship and love
Anything worth doing is worth doing for friendship and love
I also know now that you can have many loves in your life of varying strength
The only limitations to love are the Leeches known as Jealousy and lack of attention
If you truly love how can you cheat that love?
You only cheat yourself of that very love you crave and seek
Honestly loving more than one person is just that; honestly and in full communication with all parties involved
Lies and half truths share no place in the realm of love and happiness
If you want a direct answer just ask it
Be prepared to be told the truth, not just a cloud of smoke blown up an open orifice
Love is a Compact with room for flexibility if you can communicate intent and need
Yet do not confuse love and physical attraction as these are coins of separate values
Sex and Love don't always go hand in hand, but love and friendship are never separate
I plan to survive to to ripe age of three and ninety, a crusty old codger
Still eyeing the beauty of this world be it nature, woman or child
And when I pass this veil with some regret I hope to leave these thoughts behind
I can truly say it was better to have loved and been loved than any other treasures that Life offered
So I leave you with this one task; love yourself, love who you are and who you will be
Then tell and show those you love that they matter and tend to your garden of love
I guarantee the fruit will be sweeter than Honey and spiced to match, seasoned for Love with a passion garnish