When I am in love…
I am comfortable being around my mate.
I am comfortable when I am away from my mate.
I am protective of my mate.
I like my mate to stand on her own.
I both listen and hear my mate.
I ask her, without reservation, to both listen and hear me.
I am not ashamed of her weaknesses.
I do not try to hide my own weaknesses.
And so much more…
I’m attracted to women who understand the needs of a man, but do not resent them.
I’m attracted to women who don’t need mirrors to know whether or not they’re presentable.
I’m attracted to women who teach.
I’m attracted to women who create.
I’m attracted to mothers and daughters and sisters, and cousins, and strangers. If one or another chooses to love me, then I examine why that is, and if it makes sense to me, I give my love back.
I’m attracted to women who have patience when we’re in conversation.
I’m attracted to women who sing or play the piano, and let me do the same for them.
But…
As the Tom Springfield lyrics to “The Carnival Is Over” remind us:
Like a drum, my heart was beating
And your kiss was sweet as wine,
But the joys of love are fleeting
For Pierrot and Columbine
So, no matter what the components are when one tries to define love, those that last, seem more like partnerships than the poetic “sweet as wine” types.
