Marian Kaplun Shapiro

Corollary^*: Because I love you there is more love in the world

If I loved you                 but                  you did not love me back,

		would there be more love in the world?

		What kind of love would that be?
		Where would we find it? and
		how would we know it if we did?

It's the silvered grey of steel.  It smells of burning tires.  It's hard to the touch.  Pointed.
Serrated.  Sharp.  It tastes of blood.  In your hand a saber.  A sword.

If you died                     but                  I loved you still

		would there be more love in the world?

		and what kind of love would that be?
		Where would we find it?  and
		how would we know it if we did?

It's the lavender of lilacs.  It smells of countless Springs.  It's soft to the touch.  Rounded.
Scalloped.  Gentle.  It tastes of rain.  In your hand a pen.  A painter's brush.

A sword.  A brush.  Without love, neither.
What the world needs now is love sweet love - so
the song goes.  The sweet of it.  But always, these.
The sword.  The brush.  Too.

^* a proposition inferred immediately from a proved proposition with little or no additional proof. a: something that naturally follows; b: something that incidentally or naturally accompanies or parallels.