The True Love

I am working on a blog post processing emotions that are arising about love and relationship. Serendipitously I was led to this lovely poem. I think it's time to buy a book of Whyte's poetry.

The True Love
by David Whyte

There's a faith in loving fiercely the one who is rightfully yours
especially if you have waited years
and especially if part of you never
believed you could deserve this loved and beckoning hand held
out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now and the testaments of loneliness
and what we feel we are worthy of in this world.
Years ago in the Hebrides I remember an old man
who would walk every morning on the gray stones
to the shore of baying seals, who would press his 
hat to his chest in the blustering salt wind and say his 
prayer to the turbulent Jesus hidden in the waters.

And I think of the story of the storm and the people
waking and seeing the distant, yet familiar figure, 
far across the water calling to them.
And how we are all preparing for that abrupt waking
and that calling and that moment when we have to say yes!

Except it will not come so grandly, so biblically,
but more subtly, and intimately in the face
of the one you know you have to love.
So that when we finally step out of the boat
toward them we find, everything holds us,
and everything confirms our courage.

And if you wanted to drown, you could,
But you don't, because finally, after all
this struggle and all these years,
you don't want to anymore.
You've simply had enough of drowning
and you want to live, and you want to love.
And you'll walk across any territory,
and any darkness, however fluid,
and however dangerous to take the one
hand and the one life, you know belongs in yours.