If unrequited love became
A love profound and true,
How bitter would one’s life become
How mournful, empty, blue.
Without love unattainable
No piercing pain complete
Would fuel the pen for poetry
And make the words accrete.
For love can be a thorny path
Walked barefoot in the gloom
And when we fall and break our heart
A poem helps heal the wound.
Fugitive Fragments 
Perfectly said. ♥
Your use of words is amazing! Strong lines that resonates as you read
“And when we fall and break our heart
A poem helps heal the wound.” , , , such a pleasure Mike 🙂 you capture a truth in your poem once again. We will inevitably fall, and our hearts will break, again, but no half sentences of devoted friends can heal, like the words of a poet, who can express our pain – enchanting as usual x
Thank you for this thoughtful and considered analysis Maria. It is gratefully appreciated 🙂
I love love love this–because it’s true in my life.
Somebody once said that a poem could act as a mirror to the mind and I am honored that you have found that to be true in this poem LF – my grateful thanks.
Most welcome.
As I always say, the world is like a pawn to poets and love or lack thereof is our greatest motivation. The moment when the pen just refuses to be put down…
Huge thanks for this introspective interpretation and feedback Jennifer. Greatly appreciated 🙂
Bravo. Encore encore
I take a bow and thank you graciously for this welcome and dramatic affirmation.
As you should this piece is incredible. Keep it up, your adoring fan base needs more and more.
Well said. Indeed, so true. 🙂
The gain/pain roundabout Chrissy – much thanks.
🙂
Very true, Mike.
Poetry can be a soothing balm for many wounds- particularly wounds of the heart.
I’ll take that presciption Doctor Van Helsing, thank you very much 😀
Haha this is how i feel about @iisuperwomanii …. Mike knows how to sniff out the best bloggStars
Yeah, she’s rad – thanks for calling Doc 🙂
Love can be a thorny path, indeed… Even more when unrequited love becomes a love profound and true. ⭐ Excellent poem, dear Mike! All the best to you, Aquileana 🙂
Thank you Aquileana for your valued interpretation and affirmation – 🙂 xo
Beautifully written! Beneath the beauty of the verses your have created here, are some truly interesting and intense observations and thoughts. Without a “thorny patch” can we write from the heart, and can words completely comfort the heartbroken poet? Mike, this poem is truly lovely on so many levels, thank you!
Warm wishes,
Pepperanne
The coincidental title of your blog lends authenticity to your welcome thoughts on this piece Pepperanne. I thank you most sincerely.
Love can be a thorny path.. how true. We need our poetry to heal the wounds..
I can remember times when if not for a poet’s companionship I’d have paid good money for magical potions to salve the pain Björn . Thank you for this very appropriate contribution.
A wisely penned poem, loved the argument of “pain for poetry”.
Thanks Tiny, the strength of that argument is under debate in this column and the realists are currently trouncing the romantics. Bring it on! 😀
Clever, Mike! Poetry is certainly a writing form that lends itself to emotional anguish.
It is indeed Christy but to be honest, the degree to which one goes can be questionable 😀 Many thanks dear friend.
Love heals all without it we die within. Have you read “The Paradox of Love “by Pascal Bruckner
I haven’t read that Julie but I just googled reviews and quotations abound so I’ve listed it. Thanks for your own very quotable comment 🙂
Unrequited love that is suddenly requited should set alarm bells ringing 🙂 Nice romantic notion aptly rhymed romantically except in the last quatrain (?) where it’s a half rhyme and emminently suitable for a half truth. Great stuff as usual.
I knew that wouldn’t slip past you Jane. Many thanks for feedback 🙂
An interesting poem, Mike, that I read several times to get the true essence…beautifully done with a lovely rhythm and a light touch of alliteration.
Thanks Polly for this interpretation and valued feedback. I genuinely appreciate your giving it time and consideration. Thanks again.
There is so much to learn from a longing such as this, Mike. Fuels my pen quite regularly. Your poetry is a blessed tool.
Unrequited: She’s a b*tch
Atones, quite rightly
All my fears
Pen quivered
Steam forward
Thanks Audrey and yes, the theme provides plenty ammunition for a poet. The notion of such a sacrificial state is outdated now but luckily we can suspend reality for the duration of a few lines. Your take on this is more accurate 🙂
Oops! I somehow posted that before I was done:-)
A delightful ryhme and rythm
Your messages have a rhythm of their own – thanks again 😀
Love leaves us with so much to write about. A very pleasant ryhme
Yes indeed, a bottomless well (or pit, depending on your point of view). I pleased that you like it C, many thanks.
I can and do admire the sensitivity of the romantic poet that you are Mike.
The delicate wistfulness is barely hidden behind the denied thoughts in this work.
I can vouch for the exquisite pain and wretched helplessness of unrequited love.
And I can even claim a few verses of some beauty as a result of such a love… but if I may be bold, truthful, or at least honest and share my wholehearted conviction (with a smidgen of brutal eloquence that only another romantic might express), I think unrequited love is a bitch.
You are one of only two commentators brave enough to remind me that Romanticism is a delusional ‘ignis fatuus’ of exaggerated overwrought emotion by hero-types intent on measuring their love by the weight of a quantity of tears measured by their own patented Pain Guage. But thank you Emmy for playing along with the notion for a little while, for such is the heart of a true poet. Aristotle famously praised, “the ability to entertain a thought without accepting it” (or something like that anywho). As a measure of my appreciation for this feedback Emmy your words have earned a place in my Top Ten comments for 2015 🙂
The year is young yet. I will not rest on my laurels. 😉
Thank you for puttting up with my brutal eloquence and for the fun.
You nearly convinced me, Mike!
You have seen through me Jackie and exposed this poseur in his fantasy of Romanticism, bleeding his heart onto the ink-splotted page of his pitiful existence – you hussy! “P
The poison’s the cure’s the poison, eh?
An astute distillation aptly put Ron – I thank you for this philosophical contribution to the poem.
Beautiful poem ,Mike. So delicate.
Thanks Tink, it’s always wonderful to have your opinion.
Very moving, Mike. Love it!
I’m glad that you felt this piece luixe and appreciate such positive feedback. Thank you so much.
Powerful poem. Beautifully written!
I am so glad that you liked this piece Ms. Vee and thank you for such a lovely compliment.
You are welcome Mike.
Ah the pain, the necessary pain..
Written with a wise and gentle hand, Mike.
john
Thank you John. It seems to me that the deeper the hurt, the more beautifully cathartic the poetic outpourings become – paradox indeed.
I love how this is expressed and certainly, how true. Broken hearts and unrequited love make some of the best poetry 🙂
Therein lies the paradox Kate. Thank you for this interpretative feedback which I greatly appreciate.
Ah,… how true, Mike! If all went well, there would be no love songs. And even after love’s sweet pain, with all our finger’s burned, we’ll gladly fall in love again, because we never learn?
It seems that optimism is the stronger force when weighing gain vs pain Michael. Your insight adds value to my work – thank you so much.
Strong poem. Love those last two lines
Thanks for this feedback bercatliz; I’m very pleased that you selected the denouement for special mention.
“A poem helps heal the wound.” So true; been there.
Yes indeed Steve, knowing that we’re not the only ones to suffer helps to normalise the grief. Thanks for this contribution.
Love with everything you have.
Thank you for this affirmation Dylan.