Flame of love

To 'somebody' the blue sapphire flame in my heart

your hand is always in mine
your whispered endearments are my constant
companion
you have never turned your face from me
no matter how many times I have turned from you

now I vow undying love
I meet you in the secret places I used to hide
from you in
I hold you with tenderness I used to reserve for
my pain
I would give you my life and my breath in an
instant

for you are my true love
the one with no form
the one who has never been anywhere, but right here
in the singing of my heart

why fear this moment
when no thoughts come
at last I lie naked
in the arms of experience

why fear this moment
when no words come
at last I find rest
in the lap of silence

why fear this moment
when love finds itself alone
at last I am embraced
by infinity itself

why fear this moment
when judgment falls away
at last my defenses
fail to keep intimacy at bay

why fear this moment
when hope is lost
at last my foolish dreams
are surrendered to perfection

I may think I feel love
but it is love that feels me
constantly testing the woven fibers
that enclose and protect my heart
with a searing flame
that allows no illusion of separation

and as the insubstantial fabric of my inner fortress
is peeled away by the persistent fire
I desperately try to save some charred remains
by escaping into one more dream of passion
I may think I can find love
but it is love that finds me

meanwhile, love becomes patient and lies in wait
its undying embers gently glowing
and even if I now turn and grasp after the source of
warmth
I end up cold and empty-handed
I may think I can possess love
but it is love that possesses me

and finally, I am consumed
for love has flared into an engulfing blaze
that takes everything
and gives nothing in return
I may think love destroys me
but it is love that sets me free

the past is long gone
from here
there is no way back
how could there be

the present is over too quickly
for feeble desires
to have any effect
except to hide peace

the future races ahead
forever out of reach
of dreamy wishes
and useless plans

and yet when I rest
in the endless now
every need is satisfied
in ways never imagined