what is love?

a brief analogy

love is a student, love is a teacher
the congregation and the preacher
a rusty nail in a brand new tire
the steam from water cast upon fire
love is a frown, love is a smile
a waste of time, an endeavor worthwhile
a slap on the bottom of a newborn child
strong and dangerous, meek and mild
love is forever, love is no more
a piece of candy in a hardware store
the mess you step in out in the yard
it's way too easy, it's too damned hard
love is an angel, love is a sinner
a crying loser and a laughing winner
the wrong turn into the right direction
utter chaos and perfection
love is a noise, love is a song
love is so right and so, so wrong
the shortest day, the longest night
deafness, blindness, hearing and sight
love is sorrow, love is bliss
the kiss of death and a passionate kiss
love is giving, the act of sharing
looking away and wantonly staring
love is a tunnel, love is a bridge
leftover chicken inside the fridge
the burn on the bacon, the sweet in the tea
a slave in shackles, a soul who is free
love is a child, afraid of the dark
an exclamation, a question mark
a sail full of wind on a dead-calm sea
a tropical forest, a naked tree
love is a rainbow with a pot of gold
the car on the lot that never gets sold
a courageous avenger wearing a mask
that important question you forgot to ask
love is a cure, a deadly disease
a man standing tall and a man on his knees
a badge of honor for an act of shame
love is so serious, love is a game
love is a question, love is an answer
a villain, a killer, a sweet romancer
the highest mountain covered with snow
being all dressed up with nowhere to go
love is safety, love is danger
love is love with a total stranger
being together, being alone
punishment for the punches you've thrown
love is real, love is fake
a burger and fries without a shake
love is getting her home before dawn
and helping her put her panties back on
love is confusion, absolute clarity
allowing sex as an act of charity
complete disclosure without confessing
feigning no interest as your lover's undressing
love is serenity, love is panic
feeling saintly while behaving satanic
a horrible nightmare, a wonderful dream
a bowl full of peaches without any cream
love is a b*****d, a beautiful son
knowing you've lost, knowing you've won
a taste of forever, a flash in the pan
believing you can't while believing you can
love is dog s**t, love is a flower
a beautiful princess in an ivory tower
the charming prince, the villain in black
the boomerang that won't come back
love is a whisper, love is a shout
a lick and a promise, a flicker of doubt
the light from a candle, a darkened room
feeling salvation and impending doom
love is acceptance, love is denial
the unquestioned verdict preceding the trial
throwing our coins in the wishing well
we make it our heaven, make it our hell
love is lamb chops without mint jelly
rubbing a puppy on his belly
nacho chips after you've run out of cheese
jumping into the fire only to freeze
love is a promise, love is a lie
giving freely without asking why
a beautiful painting, a stain on the wall
the shadowy figure at the end of the hall
love is together, love is apart
love is the break in your still beating heart
call it lucidity, call it insane
do you have the courage to call it by name?
love is not owning, love is possession
love is pursuing your fondest obsession
unbridled emotion, incessantly sought
it can't be borrowed, can't be bought
the start of a journey, the end of the line
a blind intersection with no warning sign
it can't be bargained, never beaten
that pie in the oven, forgotten, uneaten
love is a nuisance, a fly on the wall
a t**d in the punchbowl at a fancy dress ball
an act of contrition, a cruel twist of fate
the cavalry arriving one hour too late
love is salvation, love is sweet bliss
a succulent virgin, that first tender kiss
the promise of passion, fulfillment of joy
desire, expectation...oh, how they annoy!
love is the music you feel in your heart
the song never written for lack of a start
an opera unfinished, a symphony dark
the fire won't burn if you don't feed the spark
love is an ocean, an infinite sky
we learn how to swim, learn how to fly
it's gratification, relentless remorse
we can't ride in the saddle without mounting the horse
love has no agenda, no limits, no pride
it can't be released if kept locked inside
if love is not given it won't be received
for love to have substance it must be believed
love is a curse, love is a prayer
love is a savior, love is a slayer
a ritual practiced by all of mankind
the answer to emptiness few ever find
love is hate, love is love
a vicious hawk and a peaceful dove
love is poor, love is rich
ain't love grand? ain't love a b***h?

Reviews

[realmwriter]

Love is everything we ever wanted and nothing we ever had
love is a child laughing and giggling at their funny dad
love is the beginning and the end of a relationship that had to begin
love is the one emotion we cant get enough of and confuse for fear
love is puppy the size of an iphone love is the deftone, a sleep, a wink, and a nod
love is being lost and knowing where you are
Love is the brink of blowing up your car

I really like this piece. It flows very well and the metaphors are well thought out. I also really like all of the opposites you use as it often felt in exactly that way.

[quinfinn]

you are a writing genius, and should write your own "what is love" poem....this is superb ...thank you!

[realmwriter]

I actually have just don't remember the title at the moment but it is somewhere in my list of writings...! Thank you very much quinn. You amaze us daily with your skill and talent. As far as I can see, it needs no polishing...

[quinfinn]

you are too kind, send me those r/r's....i am good for it.

[realmwriter]

I will do so my friend. I would ask the same of you but I am horrible at the rrs so if you would like me to read a piece of yours, as I would like to read them. Inbox me and I'll get right on it...! Thank you

[quinfinn]

no problem

[Peter H]

love makes a great use for antithesis lol :)

[quinfinn]

thank you so much, Peter!

[Keith]

One of the best poems I have found on WC! It seems to go forever like a long twisting ride at a water park. As you go on it picks up speed its gets more exciting until settled in having so much fun you don't want it to stop.

It touches everyone, so much in just one poem:-
* Those vivid often edgy images.
* Every emotion possible,
* Social comments,
* Wisdom
* Advice
and sprinklings of humour throughout.

Brilliant read from the man with the life experiences and the mastery of the craft. Back in your trucking days, how many people scooted past your 18 wheeler thinking, "just another dumb trucker". Oblivious to what might have been spinning through that brilliant mind? Hmmmmm, might be a yarn in there...

[quinfinn]

you raise a poignant question...and i am sorely tempted. your review is gorgeous and all encompassing, thank you!

[Keith]

Please go for it! As I am on the other side of the clock to you, I look forward to my morning Quinfinn with breakfast. So I will be waiting eagerly for that one....

[quinfinn]

we shall see what the muse wants.....

[Keith]

I get that brother! I ignored mine for the past 40 years, and now he seems to have just bloody taken over.

[quinfinn]

as you can plainly see, i am featuring older writes for now...but i feel a surge coming!

[Rita L. Sev]

"It's way too easy, it's too damned hard...love has no agenda, no limits, no pride it can't be released if kept locked inside...ain't love grand? ain't love a b***h?"

So many great and apt parallels in this piece, Quin - written like a man who has experienced all of these facets of that crazy thing we call love. There is a meticulousness to this write - like these ideas were coming to your brain as quickly as you could write them down, and to get the point across, you had to write them all with this precision. A work of truth, and a work of art - take a bow, Quin!

[quinfinn]

you called it honey, this was one of those late night inspirations that wouldn't rest until i had penned all the nuances which came streaming into my pen....thank you so much!

[Ravyne Hawke]

It is amazing that love is all of those things that you've written and probably so much more. This is an incredible poem quin.. unlike anything I've read to date on WC.

[quinfinn]

whoa! what a ringing endorsement, i am so humbled by this, Lori...thank you!

[Ravyne Hawke]

You are most welcomed, quin =)

[quinfinn]

i am not the best at getting back to those who show me love , so, please don't hesitate to send me a r/r if so inclined....

[Rogue]

What is this? Top your own personal best poem day? Twice I have encountered this from people who already write at an incredible level.
That's it people! Quinn and Sami have broke the site! Time to take our scribblings and go home! :D

This is so well thought out and put together. The flow is beautiful throughout. Not a hitch anywhere.
Amazing work on this one. :)

[quinfinn]

aw, you are so very kind!

[Salar Majak]

love is confusion itself
beautiful

"the steam from water cast upon fire
love is a frown, love is a smile
a waste of time, an endeavor worthwhile
a slap on the bottom of a newborn child"

my favorite poem of yours so far, the best thing i've read today, beautiful

[quinfinn]

thank you for reading, Sal. bless you!

[Salar Majak]

:)

[SyberRose]

Wow this is simply wonderful...loved reading...yes love is all those things...loved the ending..Enjoyed...:)

[quinfinn]

glad you enjoyed it. thank you so much, Rose!

[Baby Ricochet]

This is about the best thing i've ever read on this site quinfinn. I'm humbled. Do you have any idea how hard that is to do?

[quinfinn]

well, my friend, it humbles me to know you are humbled by my write. thank you so much...