one highest law

 

we make of love the highest human law
and bend our heads and hearts beneath the axe
these are the matters that no thought could tax
and that have power that will yield to no jaw
the choice is not to be the last catspaw
but to ignore the many pains and wracks
decide that none could be both stern and lax
and overcome the perfect with the flaw
love is the truth of all that we can know
and this is all the fact and all the light
that covers the whole world that we can see
we make this shelter and we make the glow
so that who follows may joy in the sight
and leave the worries and the hopes to be

under the wall

those who avoid the shallows and the deep
will find themselves with no place left to hide
and with no human partner to confide
nor any memories they'd want to keep
but you and i who choose to make the leap
know how and when to take the proper side
and what we knew before we took the ride
is what we take into the final sleep
just so the answer comes before the choice
you make the dancer enter through the door
and bow to each of those who wait to speak
until such time there is a better voice
to say the words that others will adore
and bring to life the happy and the meek