THE IMPULSE TO LOVE

by John Herlihy

I
Forget the passions of love that young people expel;
Forget the emotions of love that old people retell;
Forget the tales of love that travelers foretell;
Forget the sweet odor of love that in infancy we smell;
Forget the echoes of love that lovers ring like a bell;
Forget the death of love that divorced people knell.

II
Love is an impulse with a story to relate;
Love is a feeling with a range of emotions to inflate;
Love is the ground upon which our children we propagate;
Love is the fountain whose every drop we should investigate;
Love is the virgin spring whose waters we need consummate;
Love is the heart where lovers their feelings can contemplate.

III
The love of individuals between each other is finite;
An earthly love needs to be handled like dynamite;
Human love so far as it goes is considered alright;
Love among lovers lasts all day until twilight;
The love of married couples grows with hindsight;
The love of individuals for the Divinity is infinite.

IV
If love were a sound, it would shout hallelujah;
If love were an odor, it would smell most peculiar;
If love didn’t exist, it would be commanded by the ruler;
If love were a commodity, it could not be sold;
If love were a bud, it would never grow old;
If love were a story, it would wait patiently to unfold.

V
We have every reason the love of God to aspire;
The love of God forms the basis of our actions to inspire;
Kindling the love of God will keep us afire;
With God’s love we feel holy sentiments that never tire;
Without God’s love our straights would certainly be dire;
Indeed, God’s love for humanity will never expire.