I think awhile of Love, and while I think, <br />Love is to me a world, <br />Sole meat and sweetest drink, <br />And close connecting link <br />Tween heaven and earth. <br /> <br />I only know it is, not how or why, <br />My greatest happiness; <br />However hard I try, <br />Not if I were to die, <br />Can I explain. <br /> <br />I fain would ask my friend how it can be, <br />But when the time arrives, <br />Then Love is more lovely <br />Than anything to me, <br />And so I'm dumb. <br /> <br />For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak, <br />But only thinks and does; <br />Though surely out 'twill leak <br />Without the help of Greek, <br />Or any tongue. <br /> <br />A man may love the truth and practise it, <br />Beauty he may admire, <br />And goodness not omit, <br />As much as may befit <br />To reverence. <br /> <br />But only when these three together meet, <br />As they always incline, <br />And make one soul the seat, <br />And favorite retreat, <br />Of loveliness; <br /> <br />When under kindred shape, like loves and hates <br />And a kindred nature, <br />Proclaim us to be mates, <br />Exposed to equal fates <br />Eternally; <br /> <br />And each may other help, and service do, <br />Drawing Love's bands more tight, <br />Service he ne'er shall rue <br />While one and one make two, <br />And two are one; <br /> <br />In such case only doth man fully prove <br />Fully as man can do, <br />What power there is in Love <br />His inmost soul to move <br />Resistlessly. <br /> <br />______ <br /> <br />Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side, <br />Withstand the winter's storm, <br />And spite of wind and tide, <br />Grow up the meadow's pride, <br />For both are strong <br /> <br />Above they barely touch, but undermined <br />Down to their deepest source, <br />Admiring you shall find <br />Their roots are intertwined <br />Insep'rably.<br /><br />Henry David Thoreau<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/friendship-4/
