On Love and Pain
Last updated: 14 June 2007
By Daniel Evans from Aberystwyth
When I put my hand in to the fire,
nerves and sinews soon conspire
to cause an unrelenting pain
that makes me take it out again.
That mechanism is defensive
preventing damage too extensive.
So why then, when we find a lover,
don't we feel pain instead of pleasure?
Surely it would be much wiser
to see in love potential danger?
To turn away from one's desire
and treat it like that flaming fire.
Unfortunately, the pain comes after
to act as late-arriving measure
of just how total was the pleasure.
But why come now when it's all over?
To warn the gallivanting fool,
the cavalier, the trite, the cruel,
that love must always, always be
taken very seriously.
So next time when you meet the one
the memory of pain will come
and you will treat your new-found lover
with care that you will stay together.