"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."
-St. Augustine

Look into the Mirror

“Look into the Mirror” by Roxanne A. Stokes © 2007

If you could only see what I see
The beauty
Inside yourself
The wisdom within

If you could only see what I see
The energy that lifts people
Your light
Brightly burning

If you could just take a glance
You would know you deserve better
You would learn who you are
Truly, deeply, comfortably

If you could only see what I see
Then you would know that
You are loved
You would know the ability you have to brighten up someone’s day

I see a woman that’s been
Hurt, betrayed, violated
Afraid to be vulnerable
But has got so much going for her

I see someone seeking food to feed her hunger for freedom
Someone searching for peace and truth
Someone wise beyond her years, who will change the world
Someday, someway

You have the power to choose
You can have peace
You can be healed
You can be free,

You can just BE
If you try
To see what I see in you.
Look into the mirror.