Before I loved, I Knew Nothing

 

Before I loved you, I loved myself
But myself was never sufficient, never transcendent
Only a bit of dust and thought, transient

Before I loved you, I loved the world
But the world changes so fast, dear
It has rooms full of ashes, can you see them

In the city and the digital corridors
They are abandoned nearly as soon
As they begin to open the doors

Before I loved you, I loved the universe
More than any one human being, I think
Love is not something inconceivably alien

But in retrospect, the most intimate notion
For in attention, spreading it, I am bathing
In a kind of glow, for all that is plentiful and gifts

That appease me wherever I go
And it’s a kind-hearted gratitude and compassion
That enables me to stop loving myself too much

Because my heart only has room for everything
Before I loved you, I loved the idea of love
But you taught me another perspective

And sometimes, love owns a new perspective
Because it’s love that transforms us into
Somebody better, and that is why

After I love you, I’m able to love you more
Than when we were together
Surprising its then, how love comes around.