Love An Ideal Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Love is not romantic feeling, love is an ideal,
a dream - unhappy relations are based on
dependency, happy relations on self-
esteem, respect and dignity

You base your happiness on work and sacrifice
ignoring your need for freedom and joy, such
self-sacrifice without appreciation makes you
feel alone and confused, does not teach

How to develop an attitude that commands
respect - love as noble aspiration and ideal,
joy and integrity has to be learned, love
does not derive from what we look upon

Love is a perspective, an ability to project
beautiful aspects on things - service does
not beget love and harmony; I cannot
accept the same emotional abuse

You are used to; I offer you my sisterly love
as affection, not exploitation - will spoil you
as a beloved sister, NOT as dependent or
helper, I love you because you are worthy

I honour your dignity and abhor it when
others don’t honour you also; I love you
within the perspective of a wonderful
sister just as you are…

[For Elreza]