To learn to love
is to be stripped of all
love until you are wholly loved
because until you have gone
naked and afraid
into this dark place
where all love is taken from you,
you will not know
that you are wholly within love
and that you have been in love's strong grips
the whole time.
Through the hardships and the sorrow,
you were submerged in love.
You will come to the realization
that you are most loved
by the people
you failed to acknowledge exist.
You will find who your true friends are
and all the while
you will find
who you're a true friend to.
This is love.
Completely surrounded by
and wholly within love.
Like you were the whole time,
but you didn't realize it,
because you didn't know
how to surround someone with love.
'Cause love scares you,
and you try to hide,
but since you are within it,
you can't hide from it.
It swallows you and consumes you.
From love there is no escape.
So you learn to love.
And you learn to BE loved.
And you live your life within the love
and you pass the love on,
and are forever changed by its gentle caress.
The caress may not always seem so gentle,
but it is
always genuine
AND IT CAN NEVER DIE.
Not when you're within.