To Love

To love is to hold oneself vulnerable to the wound
with abandon hope pursues it,                                       
in passion faith embraces it,
and in surrender grace brings peace and                                       
becomes our advocate                                          
throughout, love sows understanding
and grows closer through this covenant                
therefore, although it feigns destruction, be not rueful of the wound
because the enemy of the wounded heart is the one proud
and vanity its true prison
love lay not supine
nor can it be a thing beset
or contained anymore than warrior prayers               
borne through death to storm the gates of Hades
but only seized in cession
and in the full measure of ITS time
is known
love
can not be learned until known
can not be gained until given
and will only overcome in surrender

Written by Scott Schoffstall
© December 4, 2010
all rights reserved
Poetic Sojourn