Love, Like Light, Like a Rose

Love 

Is like light 

Is like a rose 

Growing from the darkened depths 

Of a blackened bramble 

Climbing through the soil 

With shadowed claws, 

Defeated by 

Our love: 

Beautiful because 

Of its strength, 

Rising from decay torn 

By darkness, 

Shrouded by the hate we feel 

When we tie blindfolds 

Around our emotions, 

Our hearts, 

Our humanity; 

That rose feeds on light, 

Thorns grown sharp to keep away 

That darkness, 

Which feeds upon 

Itself: the shadows 

Tucked between its shadows, 

The ink welling 

Within petals torn 

And scrawled across with hate, 

Which is not ours, 

For it refuses to see 

Outside its own bounds; 

It is not this darkness 

That will stand out against darkness, 

But that rose, 

Petals curled and colored 

As smiles, 

Lit up like love, 

Like eyes shining, 

Opened wide 

And clear.