True love is not found at glorious, soaring heights,
Extravagant, mouth-watering feasts
Or in meadows of fragrant flowers
It is found in the corners, creases and quiet seconds
Making the mundane a sacred song
It is an oasis in dry desert dunes
Patiently pursuing
Constantly kind
Holding hands
An unquenchable warm heart
Through storms and floods
It never drowns
True love’s light burns brighter in the darkest, tear-drenched nights
Through hardship and hunger, the meager meal delights in love’s garnish
Strength, beauty and splendour often precede, and sometimes surround, love
But they can all exist apart from it,
And love unveils its true beauty when it has to disrobe of these outer glories
For truest love stands, even when the earth shakes and falls.
It always gives, though it scorns to be bought or sold.
It is the singing stream, in the desert of dry bones,
That saves the lost.
It never fails.
© Leesa Briones 2021
This is a poem I finished on Valentine’s day this year when we had a lockdown – what better excuse to share a poem I wrote about how love thrives and shines amid the ordinary and difficult moments. This poem was inspired by my husband, who has been through so much after being admitted to the hospital with crushing back-pain and being diagnosed with cancer. He and I have grown closer through the difficult times. In the hospital he spent a lot of time bed-ridden and I had to bring him food, move him around in a wheelchair and shower him. It made me think about how I had taken the simple things for granted. At that time I thought about a simple dream of being able to walk with him on the beach, holding hands. Thankfully he is able to walk again and his cancer is currently at a low level. Despite his pain he is so considerate every day. Whenever he has the energy he helps around the house and plays with the kids. He always likes to leave the kitchen clean at night so when I get up in the morning, the first thing I see is a clean kitchen! In my opinion the small things, repeated every day can make or break a relationship.
Image credit: coryclayful from Pixabay A silhouette of a couple’s hands with a backdrop of tall grass, a blue sky, and bright sun.
Leesa K 