Four Kinds of Love





English has one only word for Love,
One word only, note this - and no more,
For the Greeks this was not good enough,
And distinguishnig, said: there are "four".

All these loves are to be highly praised,
Yet may be to higher levels raised.


STERGE is the love for family,
Stock and siblings, kin folk tribe and clan,
Natural this love - involuntarily
Man holds dear the tribal fellowman.

Family and kin is paramount,
And with time, it cannot but increase,
As of siblings more and more abound,
Oft disturbing patriarchal peace.

Blood is strong and strives to ever win,
But it knows not much of the Beyond,
Relatives and siblings, clan and kin,
Cling to motherSTERGE as their bond.

PHILIA comes next as friendship's love
That will ask what is this all about?
Goals and interests it is that move
Baseball champion or Astronaut..

Honest, cheerful straight and jovial,
It will go the extra mile with joy,
And embrase wiht pleasure the old pal
Shouting:'Good to see you dear Old Boy'!

Mutual goals and interests that bind,
Philia's adherents to well bond,
Natural in essence, type and kind,
Faithful friends, all set to well second.

Philia's love is honest, sweet and good,
Natural it is, thus it can grow,
It's the love of strong warm brotherhood
Where the winds of common targets blow.

It's a love free of possessiveness,
And the torment of wild jealousy,
Steady, staid, but not fastidious,
Leaving friends in their decisions free.

EROS next, with arrow and with dart.
Brings about the languid sweet romance,
Cunning, quizzical. astute and smart,
Leads his adepts in the moonlight dance.

Romance does this clever fellow plant,
Romance, either wild or languishing,
Prankster he, but bright and so gallant.
Throwing darts while softly whispering.

Yet might turn a demon over night,
As he did in many an epsode.
In some Grecian Superheroe's fight
So be careful, - make him mot a god.!

Prince he is of the Greek tragedy,
Darling of so many a weeping Muse,
If he is too fresh than run and flee.
Lest he makes of you an Oedipus.

Good a love it is, for it can grow,
Grow in depth and further to expand,
Able, if need be, to overthrow
Lower levels erstehile in command.

Fourth in line is Lady AGAPEE,
Sacrificial, unconditional,
Transcendent in essence. strong and free,
All surpassing,- supernatural.

Independent of her dear one's clout,
Merits, talents, flaws, defects and ill,
She'll turn ill and evil into good.
By a firm and simple ACT OFf WILL.

thwarting keen infatuation's sword
While she breathes in air rarified.,
Soft and tender is her lyre's chord,
As she looks to heaven starry-eyed,

For her loved one she toils patiently
With due sacrifice by day and night
So her dear-one will be safe to see
SUMMUM BONUM Iin Love at LAST sight.

But the highest can't be carried off
Until lower levels are traversed,
And promoted by all-moving Love,
Fostered and with patience reared and nursed.


God, - the sourse alone and well-spring is
Of Love's rivers and their energy,
And He drives them on until they kiss
In the ocean of eternity.

Love at LAST sight.

(C) Elizabeth Dandy

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