love

artwork by phil burns

love

first love
is exactly that
the first time ever
anyone has loved
like you do

forget
Romeo and Juliet
Anthony and Cleopatra
even Homer and Marge
this is the real thing

and when it ends
so does the world

last love
is very different
you know
it’s been done before
by you
and everyone else
and
you also know
that when it ends
the world will spin on
with burning indifference

but
it is in its own way
infinitely sadder
because
you are now old enough
to know
that it will never
come again
that you won’t ever
feel your heart
leap and race
out of control
at the touch
the sight
even the thought
of that special someone
the one who will
forever
be your
last love


* Click here to hear the poet read his words:
https://ceayr.com/2022/03/13/love/