BY ED NORTHEN
Both words
themselves
portend
combined
their synthesis
is perilous.
Falling
is an uncontrolled descent
from a place of stability
love
a noun
or verb
which may be
selfish
or selfless.
If you fall
to the ground
you get hurt
if you fall
from grace
you are lost
if you fall in love
the outcome
is unpredictable.
Falling out of something
is potentially
even more dire
falling out
of favor
is unsettling
fall out
of a boat
you might drown
fall out of love
the soul and heart
are sorely wounded.
On Valentine’s day
beware of Cupid’s
deceptive innocence
alchemy
and enchanted arrows
are dangerous.
Don’t fall in love
instead
cultivate love.
Tend
water
nurture it
and you will not fall