Beyond Love Poem by soren Barrett

"Greater love hath no man..."
but a woman yes
A mother's love deeper than
any passionate caress

In literature women have a history
I have lived Sappho's romantic love,
read Corinna's lyric poetry,
felt Aelia Eudocia's faith from above

I've puzzled at Cleobulina's riddles
and felt Erinna lament for the death of her friend,
was enamored by Li Qingzhao,
marveled over Xue Tao to no end

I have suffered Maya Angelou's painful loss,
felt the warning of Mary Shelly,
seen the love of Jane Austin,
lived the despair of Bronte

The difficulties of marriage of Woolf
Rowling's love and friendship's splendor
Elliot's class difference, Cather's exile
Morrison's race and gender

understood Alcott's dilemma between personal growth and duty,
waged the battle between good and evil of Hurston and Harper Lee,
suffered the violence, guilt and shame of Tartt
seen Dickinson's wonders of nature, and immortality

As I read these women's words of love
I see women are greater than any man
Love's depths vaster than all above
To feel what a mother does I never can