What Is Love? Poem by Paul Hartal

Her fingers
were moving gracefully
over her long hair
as she cleared a chocolate ringlet
from her eye.

'And what is exactly love? '
she asked.

'For me', he said,
crossing his jeaned legs,
'Love means above all
the fire of passion, the flames
in the volcano of desire.'

She smiled. 'Is that all? '

He took a sip from his coffee.

'No', he said. 'Although love
is not made of steel,
it can pierce your heart.
But of course, love is versatile.
It incorporates gentle feelings,
intimacy and affection'.

She gave him an inquisitive look.
'Have you ever considered love
as a responsibility,
a duty that comes
with commitment and loyalty?