Love

Life with its odd endings
and beginnings,
its occasionally 
very painful
middles,
its riddles,
its surprise hellos,
and at times 
astonishing
adieus,
its greens, its grays,
its reds, its blues,
its flowers which come 
like sunbursts
on a gloomy day,
given by a man 
you barely know,
and its birthdays 
forgotten 
by the men 
you love...
Life, with its rare gifts,
its strange charm,
its strong arm,
its vast sass,
its more than occasional
boot in the ass,
its blunt pain,
its bleak rain,
its sorrow
and its grief...
is somehow all too brief,
like a Cinderella ball, so deck the halls,
put on your pumps,
your furs,
your minks,
don't shrink,
put your tiara on,
step out,
prance high,
chin up,
dance nigh
the flame with eyes aglow,
and above all, dear friends,
before you go,
before it ends,
and there remains
no further tale to tell,
dare once...twice...
often if you choose,
but dare,
yes,dare to love,
and if you do,
make sure that you
love well.
For love is worth it all,
is worth a call
a dream,
a scheme,
a sleepless night,
a carriage ride,
or crossing
half the world,
for a glimpse, a touch,
a truth..
for love is youth,
is fun,
is grand..
a carnival...
an opera ball...
For truth to tell,
Love is Life...
and Life is Love
and Love is All.

Danielle Steel

You are my only love. You have me completely in your power. I know
and feel that I am to write anything fine and noble in the future
I shall do so only be listening at the doors of your heart. I
would like to go life side by side with you, telling you more and
more until we grew to be one being together until the hour should
come for us to die.

James Joyce, the Irish writer, in a letter to Nora, his wife

After a youth and manhood passed half in unutterable misery and half in
dreary solitude, I have had for the first time found what I can
truly love-I have found you. You are my sympathy- my better self-my
good angel-I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think
you are good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is
conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my center
and spring of life, wraps my existence about you-and, kindling in
pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.

Charlotte Bronte

Pains of love be sweeter far than all other pleasures are

John Dryden

Let those love now who never loved before. Let those who always
loved now love more

Thomas Parnell

I love you, Not only for what you are, But for what I am When I
am with you.

Roy Croft

I need you love as a touchstone of my existence. It is the sun
which breathes life into me. 

Juliette Drouet to her lover Victor Hugo, the French
author

I ne'er was struck before that hour With love so sudden and so
sweet, Her face bloomed like a sweet flower And stole my heart
away complete

John Clare

If ever two were one, than surely we. If ever man were loved by
wife, then thee; if ever wife was happy in a man, compare with me
ye women if you can. I prize thy love more than whole mine of
gold, or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such
that rivers cannot quench, nor ought but love from thee, give
recompense. Thy love is such I can no way repay, the heavens
reward thee manifold I pray. Then while we live, in love lets so
persever, that when we live no more, we may live ever. 

Anne Bradstreet

It's hard to be in love sometimes with all your feelings so
vulnerable when you give your love, there are no secure defenses
but to offer yourself is the ultimate gift... and love can be so
grand like the feeling you get when the sun shines through your
window and you're warm and secure... there is no substitute for
having a special person with whom you can share your love, your
life love can be hard sometimes... but it's worth it. 

Johnnie Rosenauer

I've spent a good part of my life running away from things...
Escaping any type of deep relationship, walking away from my
beliefs... But now, I've begun working on myself-spirituality- I'm
looking better and feeling better than ever before and I know
that someday soon, everything will come together... Once I am
able to love myself for the person that I am... I will know how
to love someone as beautiful as you.

Gail Nishimoto

I love you. I may not always show it so you may not always feel it.
The problems come, not from you but from the insecurities I bring
to our relationship. You are loving, but sometimes I am too
scared, too fearful, too threatened to accept love. I will keep
in mind that you have insecurities too, and I will remember you
love me even at those times when I find it difficult to accept
love.

Alice Cooper Richardson

I love you... I really do. I'm a little afraid, but I know that
only when we learn to trust, and risk rejection will we really
come to know the warmth of each other and find peace in
discovering the beautiful hidden parts inside.

Sue Mitchell

Love is the greatest of feelings... a feeling that works wonders.

Anton Makarenko

I must admit, when I met you I was afraid. Afraid of love, for I
had failed before. Afraid of goodbyes, for I had to say them too
many times... Now ...I'm no longer scared of love, for what I
have with you is so beautiful. As for goodbyes.. I still get
scared when I think of the word; so let's make a promise... that
we'll never use that word; and that we'll just try to love each
other as much as we possibly can. 

Kitty Closson

Love-can carry us to the moon and beyond, to the farthest star that
breathes everlasting light, but we must be willing to win love.
We must pay with patience, with faith, and understanding, and
much, much more. The price is high, but the earth holds no
greater treasure.

Rowland R.Hoskins,Jr

Sometimes it's hard for me to make a commitment- even though I
know I love you and I want you by my side, sometimes it seems
that the more I need you, the more I push you away. But if you
could just se beyond the obstacles I often put there, you would
see that ... I really do want you, I really do need you, I really
do love you.

Doris Amundson Arnold

Why do I put you through such misery when I love you so much why
do I act so moody with you when I love you so much I must be
going through something which needs a lot of introspection- the
only way I'll get over it is to understand it and not take it out
on anyone else especially you whom I love so much

Susan Polis Schutz

Look back and see the goodness the happiness you've shared, Remember the fun times,
first experiences and the beauty of a sunrise. Look back to
treasured memories; forget the sorrows and the hurts. Simply
recall all of the loveliness for so long. And once you're looked
back, then look forward... to the very best part of your life-
the part which is still to come.

Gayle Rosenfeld

The moments spent sharing with you are the best part of my life.
Our relationship is so fragile; so new. Let us find the courage
to give of ourselves to each other. The risk of caring is so
small. The reward, so great.

Vicki S Mossman.

Please understand that I've got to go slow; that I need a little
time... you see, I'm still trying to get to the point where I'm
happy with myself; where I'm confident and safe and secure just
being me. I know that it might take a little while, and a bit of
patience, but when I do get there- when I reach the point where I
want to be- I hope and pray that I'll be able to open the door
and on the other side, see you, smiling so warmly, looking back
at me.

Laine Parsons

I'm still learning about love, so please be patient with me when
things go wrong, or when I hurt your feelings. We have so much to
look forward to, and the time goes by so quickly... that we
should promise never to allow a misunderstanding to continue
beyond a brief time. We will deal with our concerns as they come
up ... and our love will just get better, because ... we learn by
doing, and we grow by experiencing... We've learned enough
already to know that love is made up of all things, the good with
difficult times, the quiet with the talkative times, the
questions with the answers. And even when I don't seem to know
anything else... I know that you're the answer and the best thing
in my life.

Andrew Tawney

Sometimes the pressures of life, the worries and frustrations
build walls between us. You see things your way... and for a
short time we forget what we really mean to each other. Through
patience and understanding the harmony is restored, and we can
share life's beauty together again. 

Susan Staszewski

Let's just be together and enjoy our relationship for what it is
right now, and not worry about where it is going or how t will be
in the future. Let's be honest and open with our feelings and
emotions, just be ourselves-together and bring out the very best
in each other... Let's just be together.

Debra Kay Stitcht

Is it okay to feel afraid? Because I am ...sometimes afraid of
taking a chance, afraid of losing, even afraid of winning
sometimes. I'm scared to love too much, scared to hold on too
tight when you may want to be free; scared of letting go when I
need you to hold me. And I need to know if it's okay to feel
afraid, because sometimes I am ... because I love you so much. 

Daumont Valentine

I will not... I will not judge you... I will not bring up the past...
for fear of wiping out the present. I will not possess you...
even though I want to own every breath. I will not plan our every
moment... surprises are more fun. I will not lie to you even when
the truth with hurt you more. I will not try to change you... I
accept you "as is." I will not take away your pain...
you need it to grow on, too. I will not have expectations of you...
the ones you have of yourself are great enough. I will not stop
loving you... no matter what. 

Kathleen O'Brien

If ever I did, I never intended to clip your wings for one who
doesn't have the freedom to fly will surely find a way to get
free. If ever I did, I never intended to be jealous, but I am
just a person who is still a lot like a little child, and
sometimes I'm terribly unsure of myself... If ever I did, I never
intended to change you, for you were to change, you wouldn't be
the person that I fell in love with, and our love might fade. If
ever I did, I never intended to make you dependent for dependence
stunts personal growth, not just one, but for both people. If
never I did, I always intended to simply share my love with you
for your love is my life, and my life is nothing without you.

Thomas R. Dudley

Our life together with be worth waiting for... time is our only
obstacle and like all things, it too will pass; perhaps slowly,
but nonetheless, the day will come when finally we will have the
beautiful life we've planned on. And then we'll say that it was
surely worth the wait. 

Susan Santacroce

I tried to get angry at you for my blues today, I sat down and
began to list all your faults all of the reasons why I should
forget you all of the excuses for my hurting you. But each time I
wrote one fault, I remembered a dozen reasons why I cared. And
after adding up all the points about you, I found the bad wasn't
really so bad, and the good was really good, I could never be
angry with you.

Michael J. Mulvena

Love is being happy for the other person when they are happy
being sad for the other person when they are sad being together
in good times and being together in bad times Love is the source
of strength Love is being honest with yourself at al times being
honest with the other person at all times telling, listening,
respecting the truth, and never pretending Love is the source of
reality Love is an understanding so complete that you feel as if
you are a part of the other person accepting the other person
just the way they are and not trying to change them to be
something else Love is the source of unity Love is the freedom to
pursue you own desires while sharing your experiences with the
other person the growth of one individual alongside of and
together with the growth of another individual Love is the source
of success... Love is the excitement of planning things together
the excitement of doing things together Love is the source of the
future Love is the fury of the storm the calm in the rainbow love
is the source of passion Love is giving and taking in a daily
situation being patient with each other's needs and desires Love
is the source of sharing Love is knowing that the other person
will always be with you regardless of what happens missing the
other person when they are away but remaining bear in heart at
all times Love is the source of security Love is the source of
life

Susan Polis Schutz

I dislike so much the times when I am angry at you or when you
are angry at me We need to talk about our feelings more and not
harbor resentment We need to immediately tell each other why we
feel hurt or mad so we can make amends Our days are too short to
waste any time on not being completely happy with each other 

Susan Polis Schutz

It's funny sometimes how --even though we love and trust one another-
we still can leave so many words unsaid between us, so many
wishes unspoken. There are times, I'm sure, when we've both
wanted to be listened to, to be held- but our inner words and out
outer signals were too quiet to be noticed by the other if we
were able to be as close and as communicative as I would life us
to be, hardly a word would go unspoken that needed to be heard;
hardly a touch would go unheeded that needed to be felt; hardly a
day would go by without us falling more in love.

Laine Parsons

I hope that you can be whatever you need to be with me. I hope
that you sense enough love from me to feel easy about smiling
when you need to smile, and crying when you need to cry. I really
hope that you feel secure enough with me to be silent or to show
your needs or just to ask for a hug. Feeling that secure is
important... I know; because I need that feeling of security ...
from you, too.

Sue Mitchell

11 August

1810 Everyday every hour every moment makes me feel more deeply how blessed
we are in each other, how purely how faithfully how ardently, and
how tenderly we love each other; I put this last word last
because, though I am persuaded that a deep affection is not
uncommon in married life, yet I am confident that a lively,
gushing, thought-employing, spirit-stirring, passion of love, is
very rare even among good people... We have been parted my sweet
Mary too long, but we have not been parted in vain, for wherever
I go I am admonished how blessed, and almost peculiar a lot mine
is... Mary I love you with a passion of love which grows till I
tremble to think of it's strength; your children and the care
which they require must fortunately steal between you and the
solitude and the longings of absence-when I am moving about in
traveling I am less unhappy than when stationary, but then I am
at every moment, I will not say reminded of you, for you never I
think are out of my mind 3 minutes together however I am engaged,
but I am every moment seized with a longing wish that you might
see the objects which interest me as I pass along, and not having
you at my side my pleasure is so imperfect that after a short
look I had rather not see the object at all.

William Wordsworth, in a letter to his wife Mary,
written eight years after their marriage and shortly after the
birth of their fifth child

I hold it true, whate'er befall, I feel it when I sorrow most; 'Tis
better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I love thee, I love but thee, With a love that shall not die Till
the sun grows cold, And the stars are old, And the leaves of the
Judgment Book unfold.

Baynard Taylor