IF 'PERENNIAL'

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

- Max E. Desiderata

IF 'GESTURE'

And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.

- Libba Bray

IF 'STAY'

A dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows, and the dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store, makes each day a constant battle just to stay between the shore.

- Garth Brooks

IF 'REMEDY'

There is no remedy for love, but to love more.

- H. D. Thoreau

IF 'MIDSUMMER NIGHT'

Like Words, Like Music

Some have heard the music in the trees
that has no words, but words they have
more than music, and so they sing.

Others have heard the words of love
that make no sound, but sounds they have
more than silence, and so they speak.

For them, there's crackling music in a fire,
a round in the rapids, shimmery chords
midair, and a drumming in the earth.

What's worth more than our poverty
that needs such speech and song as poets
and lovers are helpless not to utter?

Lovers have a music in their heads,
the words by heart, and could not love long
were they less heartfelt, less headstrong.

Midsummer's a confluence of time
and passion, when those halfway to matrimony
labor to compose their love symphony.

Shakespeare knew his meters and strewed them
along the garden path and in the wood
that those who needed most to hear them could.

Lovers, though you be neither courtly nor English,
yet you have other traits worth a show,
so sing and play together, for you never know.

-Marvin Bell-