As the weekend unfolds, we are all in anticipation of spending time with our loved ones and doing the things we love.  Ah love! That elusive, maddening four letter word!  Just when you think you have got the hang of it, it changes face and slithers out of your reach. But I think celebrated American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator Nikki Giovanni had quite a satisfactory grasp of what it is. Here is her award winning work to help us in our struggle to love better.

LOVE IS

Some people forget that love is

tucking you in and kissing you

“Good night”

no matter how young or old you are

Some people don’t remember that

love is

listening and laughing and asking

questions

no matter what your age

Few recognize that love is

commitment, responsibility

no fun at all

unless

Love is

You and me

CHOICES

if i can’t do

what i want to do

then my job is to not

do what i don’t want

to do

it’s not the same thing

but it’s the best i can

do

if i can’t have

what i want … then

my job is to want

what i’ve got

and be satisfied

that at least there

is something more to want

since i can’t go

where i need

to go … then i must … go

where the signs point

through always understanding

parallel movement

isn’t lateral

when i can’t express

what i really feel

i practice feeling

what i can express

and none of it is equal

i know

but that’s why mankind

alone among the animals

learns to cry