The mystery called Love

This article has been published in The Jewish Press




It's like black and white,
like day and night,
these two emotions,
two styles of love, so different.

Can they live in harmony?
Or must we choose one over the other,
and abandon one to the way side,
live without it,
because it is not a necessity?

Or is it something
that people much older and wiser would say,
with a wave of their hand,
'oh one day you will understand'.
But will I? Or do they just like to give advice...?

With a rose, on one knee,
a dance in the moon light,
a kiss in the candles glow,
but do you know,
is it real, or a product of too many movies?

A touch,
a hug,
a loving word.
Getting lost in the depths of another human being,
so enthralled, you see no one else.

A poem,
a letter,
comfortable silence.
A text, a phone call,
a reminder of a bond so strong.

Holding hands,
walking barefoot in the sand,
hair flying in the wind,
in a lovers embrace,
with a breathtaking sunset as a back drop.

Black and white,
learning quietly, or with a chavrusah,
watching from afar,
shepping nachas,
eyes bright with tears.

A glowing face,
a fresh bride,
a fresh groom,
pure and whole,
with life ahead and memories to make.

And no memories to be destroyed,
or forgotten, buried,
or rewritten,
until it is like it never happened,
because it should never have happened.

A peek through the curtains
so eager to see his face,
so happy,
and yearning to live life
together as one.

Sitting close together,
secure in his embrace,
a familiar scent, comforting,
and the reassurance that he is there,
next to you.

Things that are meant to be hidden,
but are revealed,
things that are meant to be private,
but are shared,
moments that should be yours only.

Like black and white,
day and night,
these two emotions
two kinds of love
so different.

Pure,
impure,
Love is a mystery to me,
a big question mark,
uncharted waters.

G-d and religion,
the whole shebang,
kids and family,
doing it, doing it well,
does the 'L' word have a place here?

A heart-
not a beating heart-
a pink heart, symbol of love,
does it have anything to do with life?
Or is it a figment of someone's creativity?

World,
if I throw myself into your waters,
if I throw myself into your arms,
let me know if I get it right,
or if I am spiraling down into the darkness,
searching for something that I do not know,
have never seen,
and will never find.

Love-
will I ever find it?
Or am I searching for something
that does not exist?