it’s not just a word
That passes through lips
Casually uttered
To keep a tight grip

it’s not manufactured
To sit on a shelf
It’s not something
To keep to yourself

It’s not just a gift
To be wrapped with a bow
To pick you up
When you feel low

it’s not just a smile
Or a tilt of the head
It’s certainly not
Found while laying in bed

it’s not what you have
Nor just what you give
It’s just not something
That without you can live

It’s not just a heart
That pounds very deep
Nor eyes that well up
As you fall asleep

It’s not shaped like a knife
Yet it cuts through and through
With no guarantees
You will be loved too

I’ve heard that love
Should be given away
Something to fill
Your loved one’s day

A smile that passes
From face to face
Something that God gave
To the whole human race

commentary:

I find at times the best way to discover the meaning of a feeling is to determine what it is not. It is in identifying the “not” that unveils the “is”~

© D.E.Foote