Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Love by Roy Croft

I found this poem I'd copied into a battered old notebook I've had since my freshman year in high school.  It's still a favorite and perfect for Valentine's Day.  I'm still in love with love.  For all my wonderful friends here in Blog land!!!!  xoxo  ~Marion


LOVE
By Roy Croft

I love you not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you, not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out;
I love you for putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart and passing over
All the foolish, weak things that you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out into the light
All the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find
I love you because you are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life not a tavern
But a temple.
Out of the works of my every day
Not a reproach but a song.
I love you because you have done
more than any creed could have done
to make me good.
And more than any fate could have done
to make me happy.
You have done it without a touch,
Without a word, without a sign.
You have done it
by being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.


13 comments:

Fireblossom said...

Oh, me too, Marion. Romantic to the end.

I wrote about Rod McKuen's deli again, in a poem called "Orleans", which is about the fourth poem down, currently. I know you liked the first one.

Rosaria Williams said...

It goes straight in, like a good glass of wine. Thanks, M.

Marion said...

Thanks for the heads up, FB. I'll check it out! Blessings!

You're welcome, Rosaria. Blessings!

Kelly said...

This really is wonderful, Marion.

Wishing you lots of love for Valentine's Day!

((hugs)) my friend!

Bubba said...

I love this poem, Marion - and love you for sharing it with us, like an early Valentine.

Loving love! :)

Marion said...

Thanks, Kelly. Love & Hugs back at you.

Thank you, Eric. Back at you, too. LOL!

Wine and Words said...

I love you because you are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life not a tavern
But a temple


I love that we can build within each other...monuments!!!

This brought back a memory. I remember reading this...so so far back.

erin said...

I know you do these things with an open heart, Marion. You don't post these pieces lightly. I see you! And thank you, too.

xo
erin

Debrah Riddleton said...

I will take this pair of sentences, because it contains a great truth: "I Love You Not Only for What You Are, But For What I am When I am with you."
When we love and admire someone, we won twice because it makes us grow and defeat our weaknesses.
Really Beautiful.
Blessings:
Debrah

Phoenix said...

Ah, Marion, I love this poem so much. It makes me want to read it to Benni for all the parts that fit our relationship so perfectly.

Your poetry is making me a better person too, did you know that? :)

Anonymous said...

Hope your having an amazing week!
Love seeing all the waterhouse art, dreamy!
lovexx

quid said...

Oh, Marion. You are my personal shopper. I've looked a little, and needed to look more, for the perfect gift of words for someone I hold dear.

And here, you've given them to me with your "heart charging" poem. Thanks and love,

quid

Laurie said...

I love this poem because it is the whisper beneath my conversations with my husband today as we drove around, celebrating Valentine's Day.