Love should never come to endless negotiation,

making beautiful arrangements of practicalities

as if they were flowers in an ugly vase;

Or discussing the practicality of arrangements

like love was approaching the end of its life

and we needed to choose its casket.  

 

Love should never end in a brewing swill of sorrow

drowning the history of tears with its contents

as if the melancholy had no end;

Or emptying the container of joy to the ground

like the elixir were suddenly so bitter

a single sip would poison.