(34) Works of Love
Part II A
You Shall Love
You shall love thy neighbor as thyself sounds a pretty thing
But upon that thought we find a catch
Here’s the trepidation that phrase brings
This commandment and self-love simply do not match
To love ourselves as we love another
We simply can't feel superior
But must feel equal to be that sort of lover
No one can be inferior
This commandment is awe inspiring
Because it’s so far reaching
So much here that is transpiring
Subtle and divine in teaching
It can transform all our perceptions
About who are our neighbors
It’s all living beings without exceptions
Although it’s humans we may favor
It will open up our hearts and minds
To other’s ways of seeing
The world is richer we will find
Than we have long been dreaming
To love our neighbor comes as adventure
Into other lands unknown
It can end all kinds of censure
Through the bonds we will have grown
This can be quite liberating
As daunting as it may feel
There is little more exhilarating
To escape what self-love seals