Born of soul, love’s likeness is that of child,
often wilful and prone to stubborn shows
that well-mask the features of meek and mild;
hidden until love more mature grows.
Young love, self-obsessed with grand potential
will boast itself as something shiny new;
too conceited to be referential.
This love is far from fair and kind and true,
with distant distain love rejects its source,
delights in the harvest of foreign shores
that uncharted, provide no homeward course
to the sheltered ports that our soul adores.
. Soul is a measure of depth not distance;
. but, young love is slow to learn the difference.

© Tim Grace, 7 September 2011

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To the reader: When we personify young love we often grant it a spirited soul. Using an old agrarian metaphor young love has goat-like qualities: haughty, self-obsessed and petulant. We’ve acquainted ourselves to this interpretation through centuries of artistic representation. Born in Spring, young love assumes the character of air, the presence of Jupiter, the viscosity of blood, the physicality of heart; along side a sanguine mood… all very attractive!

To the poet: … and furthermore: young love, not to be confused with adolescence, has a long glossary of attributes; well known to poets of the past. In a literary sense, fresh love is recognisable as having a moist and pink complexion; along with a thirst for wine and merriment. This youthful spirit is gentle, meek and mostly benign; fairly-spoken and slow to anger. It’s this fresh spirit that Shakespeare so desperately sought for his own rejuvenation: “As from my soul which in thy breast doth lie: That is my home of love”

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this love