Love is defined in terms which are quite specific

That all-encompassing underlying feeling of oneness

Which comes from developing a desire from an attract

Whether this comes from mental or physical presence



It makes no difference, for love can stem from either

Recognizing this feeling is a trick quite unto itself

And being able to separate it from other emotes, finer

For many of us get these all mixed up in the stealth



Which we use to apply to these so intense feelings

And as we go on - we never do consider the alternates

Which start with Admiration - something quite steeling

Which can be geuine - so very apart from other states



Which are both empty of sincerity and genuine thought

For Adulation lacks simplicity, and thus can be bought

Infatuation is fascination which does not come from heart

This emotion is devoid of soul and thus never can start



You on the road to True Love, which does not ever shake

Loose its bond, for once set - it should not ever quake

The other emote is quick and easy to satisfy, and then ...

Once done so - one goes on and looks for others to pen



Up in this circle of finding, gaining, winning and losing

For persons who do this - do have so much trouble choosing

And identifying these four so very different emotions

Which sometimes are confused more by mixing with potions



When you sense one of these ... do be sure to stand back

And watch attentively as they turn about in their tracks

And feel carefully the senses which have been turned on

Perhaps involve yourself ... in lengthy matters of song



And look well at what is you feel ... decide for yourself

By looking hard at that which attracts you & makes you swell 

Is it admiration? ... If so, then perhaps you will then deal

With other emotions which might follow and so make you peel



Off inhibitions for you see genuine affection and even trust

Implicitly the object of this intensity and so you then must

Follow it through and allow it to take you wherever it leads

For this kind of feeling is full and honest and not cheap



Adulation, on the other hand - takes not it all into account

For it is filled with empty promise and flattery does abound

This comes from a not very genuine or intense true feeling

And will quite often leave the object of it soon reeling



If you sense this is the emotion you are about to present

Then double-check yourself to make sure you do not relent

For to do so - will show you up as so very inconsistent

Once this image is conveyed, perhaps you'll be insistent



You have found love, when all you really have is infatuation

Something which probably in time will affect half the nation

An empty promise-filled statement which does not last forever

For it's attached to vacant feelings which have no real tether



LOVE is an emotion which is not any of the above three  

For it is genuine, comes from the heart, and is so free

It looks for absolutely and completely nothing in return

For it is made completely of willingness & desire to burn.



- Tristram