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.