Yes, it’s true, I’ve joined the “700 Club”! Oh, wait a sec… actually, this is a poem that Pat Robertson would do well to read, since he’s all about putting down anyone and anything he doesn’t understand, and using God as an excuse. He makes the phrase “bully pulpit” come to life in a new way… So let’s talk about love, shall we?
Love is Not/Love is
Love is not the flip side of hatred
Love is not a sexual act
Love is not what your parents told you
or what your friends brag about
Love is not locked up or meant to be hoarded
Love is friendship to the nth power
It’s giving up what you cling to in the world
for the sake of helping another
Turning your back on Honey Boo-Boo in favor of
cradling abandoned crack babies in the NicU
It’s holding hands that are colder than yours
Love is vast as creation
Warmer than bread fresh out of the oven
More beautiful than your granny’s eyes
Each day we are given the chance
to show love to others
Love is the only thing that can heal our fractured world,
and it starts with each one of us.
Fling wide open your arms
Dance to the sacred rhythm
Unlock that latched love and give it to the world
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Poets United, where Kim Nelson was looking for poems about locks. I wrote this earlier today before encountering her prompt, as though the planets were in alignment! Also “in the margins” at my poetic Imaginary Garden With Real Toads. Peace to all, and let the love begin. Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Lance
Happy 700, ma’am!
I haven’t been commenting lately but I know I’ve read each of the last 300 or so.
I’m around 770, right now. Feels good, huh?
Love your writing.
brian miller
smiles…congrats on making 700…many never will…
and love is one thing i dont know we will ever understand or grasp completely
as i think our feeble minds and hearts cant fully fathom what it means
but i think you get fairly close…smiles.
brian miller
hey and apropo to be celebrating together…smiles
hope you are good today ma’am
kaykuala
Fling wide open your arms
Dance to the sacred rhythm
Unlock that latched love and give it to the world
Yes, let the love begin, such a sacred temperament not to be messed around. The fault was that love went through lots of experiences from different eyes. There’s no telling what it is really. But it can be felt by those who care. Lovely words crafted, Amelita! Brilliant!
Hank
kaykuala
Congrats on your 700, Ma’am! I’m about 3/4 of the way! Great!
Hank
Sherry Blue Sky
Beautiful, Amy. This poem reminds me of the video I saw on facebook the other day, of the man who goes into the street, hugs and bathes and feeds the homeless………….inspiring, just like your poem.
on thehomefrontandbeyond
I once did not realize that love is the one powerful thing in life–I know that now and your poem made it very clear
Mary
Love is the answer to many questions. Nice message here. Congratulations on your 700th poem.
Kim Nelson
This added to my happiness today, Amy. Thank you. One of the few poems I’ve read in weeks, as my life has taken a path that is wonderful, tangential, rewarding and exhausting. Blessings to you for adding to the joy.
vandana
🙂 How very true….everyday gestures are worth everything and most if the times we take them for granted.
ersie37
I hear Pat wants you on his show. Congrats!
Sharp Little Pencil
Yeah, I’ll be the Devil in the Blue Dress, ha ha ha.
El Guapo
Beautiful!
When you’re pencil is at its sharpest, it’s also frequently at its warmest.
coalblack
Tell it, girl! I’m proud of you with your 700 posts and your unwavering sense of humanity.
Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade)
Right on, sister!
Sini Rachel
Congrats Amy on the 700th! And what exquisite verses to do that with. Love is not the opp of hatred. Unlock that latched love…that remains with me.I rather find it very difficult to love. Small things irritate me and lock up the love. But your poem is a reminder to the greatest commandment of them all.
sheilaeh
word press given me hives..
700..yikes!
big congrats ,Amer.. thank you for sharing your stuff special d’lvry at times..
especially the rants..your rants are deelicioso..
Love is an Amy Rant..:0
love ya!
Suzy
I like the idea of dancing to the sacred rhythm. Very nice.
Dropping by from Verse First
Susan
Powerful poem, Amy. Love is action, I agree. Sometimes that action is mourning, sometimes it’s as simple as staying home . Sometimes it is everything you say.
Sara v
Amy, 700 goosebumps in your honor–what a fantastic poem!! I’m flinging my arms open–thank you 🙂
Poetic Bloomings
Love when your words are more expressive than mine (which is pretty much all the time!) Congrats on 700th, Ames. P&L
Walt Wojtanik
…and obviously I am NOT Poetic Bloomings. Message the same just under my real name!
Sharp Little Pencil
To put it poetically:
Who the hell
is P&L?!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
A very happy 700 just passed 600 myself 🙂 your take on love is exactly in sync with my thoughts on love. It should be so easy to give, but still you get even more back but instead we don’t
poemblaze
Beautiful words about love. And RE Robertson: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/01/14/825050/-Pat-Robertson-Freedom-Gold-and-Blood-Diamonds
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, baby, this girl is a Daily Kos junkie, part of the activist in me. Great article, thanks. He has SO much blood on his hands, including suicides of LGBTQ teens… ugh. I’m coming to read you now… Amy
hisfirefly
yes. Yes. Yes!! The greatest of these IS love. First, last, always.
shanyns
Wonderfully done!
Pamela
Feliz 700th, Amelita. Yes, we are vessels and they should be vessels of love. Wonderful poem.
Saludos,
Pamelita
margaret
Love your what love is not. It is above all a verb. Action. Saying it does not make me believe. Can you even imagine if you joined the 700 club? How long would you be able to remain sane? ;P Congrats on 700. (I never even thought about how many posts I have done. Looks like 801 and I have 12 drafts – some I held off posting and forgot about them! – I just went and found this out)
Maggie Grace
I totally agree. Even if we don’t see it, sending out the vibes impacts the universal consciousness ♥
Gay
This piece is where poetry merges with absolute truth. Never captured in words any better. Congratulations on your 700 achievement as well! It’s a pleasure to read your work.
hedgewitch
This is a fine poem for your 700th, Amy. I found every line compelling and true, especially ‘It’s giving up what you cling to in the world/ for the sake of helping another..’ so hard to see the simplicity of what love is until we start divorcing it from self-love–then everything starts to flow as it is meant to, I think, and love becomes transforming and transformative. An excellent poem.
aka_andrea
700! wow. I’m half way there. Great poem about love,
“It’s holding hands that are colder than yours” this was my favorite line.
Akila
oh yes! unlock to the love to see and feel love. Happy 700!! nice coming here after quite a while!
http://randomlynovel.blogspot.in/2013/07/random-thoughts-libra-in-me.html
Renee Espriu
I think you’ve said it all and it such an awesome way….hands down! Smiles
Zomrashml
Выпуск от 31 декабря 2010.