love gives

what shall
love provide
but
everything we need

food
something safe to drink
families
of
all sorts constructed

homes
and peace

and if our loves won’t do this
won’t provide
then
person to family to
tribe we haven’t worked it right
not yet

and if work sounds blockish
or
exploitative
then let’s ask ourselves if
we wouldn’t say that
on an easy
day

love still requires labor
for
the loved also
receiving the same
and if
followed
by rest
for all those
loving
loved

sometimes
to hope rarely called for
except something Christlike required
then
even loving and not loved

c l couch


photo by Balint Miko on Unsplash