Love Is The Thing With Feathers Poem by Manuel Odeny

Love nestles tenderly, delicately
in your arms, warmly
tickling emotions with light feathers
surely
love is something with feathers.

You hold love tightly, possessively
suffocating love jealously
it wilts, dies
a lump of meat, ruffled feathers
lifeless in your arms-
arching your heart, soul

You hold love carelessly, loosely
tossing love hurtfully
it breaks loose, fly away
like a bird wild
gone
never to perch, often wry
to get hurt on snares
leaving the heart longing
the loss.

You hold love tenderly, delicately
in your arms, warmly
love grows, blossoms
like petals of rose scented
kissed lightly by mornin' sun
cooled by dawn dew
nourishing your heart, soul

Surely
love is something with feathers
nestling in your arms