philosophy of love

The inspiration for this poem came from beautiful dialogue with KristinaX, in which she elicited from me the following:

"Thank goodness I would not have to lead a liberated soul astray!  I would say, let the free spirit break forth from its own shackles and let the so-called going-astray be the founding of great new horizons.  Then, being lost is being found, even as the seed that dies to rise."

Thank you, Kristina!

cab

An excellent offering, Cabby. There is plenty of inspiration and sometimes pure poetry to be had in dialogues when we least expect it.

As for the poem itself; the first of three parts certainly resonates with me, while the second and third come across as quite sensual and respectful in a not-so-secret-admirer way.  

Thank you, JB!

You are quite right about unexpected inspiration.  I daresay, KristinaX has a sharp eye for that; after all, it was she who said my response to something she wrote sounded like poetry.

Obviously, the "filling and back slice of the sandwich" (the second and third stanzas) fail to resonate with you because you can't figure out whether there is a continuum between the writer and the persona!

That's one of the mysteries of the poet's pen that he will not always feel compelled to demystify.  You see shrewdly, though -- and hopefully do not perceive nonchalance as a tool of the poet here.

Sincerely

cab

If I could provide any inspiration in the creation of this gorgeous piece that is truly heartwarming and it is amazing to watch you take any dialogue and create something of beauty from it. That to me is a true artist and your creativity flows in each part; the words, the colors, the format, font, and picture all working in amazing synergy.  

The quote is a perfect starting point setting up the message that love truly opens us up in a way that nothing else can and brings forth emotions that inspire things in us that would otherwise remain dormant.

Since you have referenced our dialogue as something that helped inspire this I feel I should at least give you a little more feedback so bare with me on my long response.  

The first section about breaking shackles, taking chances and not being restrained in expanding our horizons and living life to it's fullest without letting it bind us in mundane monotony is an important message. Goings-astray from the prescribed path we can truly experience life and be reborn into something more exciting and incredible.  

"tis the true sophistry of philia the philosophy of love" such an interesting line and it certainly sparks the imagination. This combination could mean many things and so I wonder what you were thinking. It both seems negative and positive in relation to the possible intentions of love where that vulnerability can be a little piece of heaven or it can be exploited in a way that deceives, a false fondness or love that actually causes damage to all involved. The type of damage depends on the circumstance. So in a way this seems like a warning about violating the trust and sanctity involved in eliciting those feelings of fondness or love. On the other hand, it is a message of hope for what that fondness or love can be which again is a little taste of heaven.

The gentleness and protectiveness of the fragile and delicate nature of when we open ourselves to another can be beautiful. Love and passion in a synergy that truly opens one to live life to fullest and being mindful of the precious vulnerability and trust when you open up to another person this way.

For me the last part again goes back to breaking the shackles because if we stay in the safety of our own protective sanctuary we largely miss out on all that life has to offer. Finding a little taste of heaven on earth requires risk and vulnerability in opening oneself to another but if reciprocated and we are able to truly love then we can indeed touch heaven. Also, in opening oneself to new experiences which is another way to experience that little taste of heaven.

I have to stop here lest this continue into infinity. Although I would like to know your interpretation of the italics. Another very interesting message and so I want to understand it through your eyes.

Hi, Kris  
 
If you think so well of my writing, it must be because you see it through beautiful eyes, appraise it with a benevolent spirit, and accept it with the best of expectations.  I am deeply humbled; thank you.  
 
By your assessment (mine as well) of the quote, the unlikeliest person might be sitting on a goldmine.  Until the right wind blows in his face, or until the right spark kindles his dormant flame, he might remain undiscovered.  After all, love might come as the wind that needs a flame or as the flame that needs a wind.  Together, the wind and the flame become poetry.  
 
So you ask me to tolerate your generosity!  I think I can manage that…  No wonder you have already copped two trophies for being top critiquer. If it were up to me, you would now have earned a third trophy for your attention to analytical detail.  Again, thank you; I welcome your observations.  
 
The message is an open book before you; your interpretation is spot-on.  To be “lost” is often more facilitating to being found than to be confined is.  The longer one remains a “safe” prisoner, the less likely will he or she become an “at risk” liberated spirit.  Most of us would rather be free to takes chances in a vast universe than to be detained in a safe nutshell.  
 
This is my wordplay on “philo/sophy.”  "Philos" reminds me of philia, one of the four ancient Greek words for love, which means “brotherly love.”  "Sophy" reminds me of sophistry or sophisticated.  Hence, sophisticated love seems to be some kind of philosophy in and of itself.  NB storgé, agapé, and eros are the other three Greek love words.  You are smart to see the potential struggle between philia and eros, even before my explanation, because philia does not court sexual (erotic) intentions.  Congratulations again!  That’s another trophy for literary analysis.  I think Johnny Blaze would benefit from this spin.  
 
The middle stanza is, indeed, one of protectionism.  True love—whether philia or eros— does not hurt; it has no victim:  no plucking from the stem; no siphoning from native seas; no forceful deflowering; no wanton devouring; no drowning.  On the other hand, willingly yielding and tenderly embraced, so that the would-be victim becomes a protagonist instead.  
 
The sandwich structure has not missed you in the least!  The end is more of the beginning, embracing and reinforcing the value of freedom.  “[R]escued but not reclused” is significant because when one is lost, one needs a sanctuary (a refuge or safe haven) but a recluse is a shut-in.  In other words, love should not make anyone a prisoner but should liberate one so that one is free to love in return and thus prove the genuineness of that unforced love.  
 
I will return with the interpretation of the Italics.  
 
Yours sincerely  
 
cab

You are going to have to stop giving such beautiful and poetic replies or else you risk requests for more dialogue inspired writing. I will keep this a bit shorter this time.

"love might come as the wind that needs a flame or as the flame that needs a wind. Together, the wind and the flame become poetry."

and further the earth grounds the spirit preventing the flame from consuming all of the passion and the wind from carrying us to far so we lose these feelings. The caresses of the water and it's fluidity allowing for change and growth through transformation and the cooling nature calming the flame which cannot be allowed to burn out of control such that even the earth is scorched, lest the passion and warmth cause great damage transforming into jealousy, anger, abuse, and control. The crystal blue water balancing the red flame as the transparency of the wind of ether balances the grounding of the earth so that we can take flight. Without balance all things would lose meaning over time. And even the negative has it's place, because without it could we truly appreciate the positive?

Absolutely love the use of the four ancient Greek words and I did consider your use of philia here meaningful and this is the reason for my use of fondness in interpretation to acknowledge that there are different types and aspects of love. I think the Greek captured this so beautifully as they did many other things in philosophy. Another beauty of this piece is that it could be easily adapted to the other types of love creating it's own series of poems. I think Aristotle himself would be impressed.