Dialogue of Amathil and Itrecal

you do not love me
and i do not love you
not yet, at least, not yet
this is not love we feel, friend

then what it is it?
if this is not love
then what is love?
i love you, i do indeed

what you feel now may lead to love
but itself is nothing more
than the result of loneliness
human need for acceptance and love

you love not me, but rather yourself
and i cannot say i yet love you
for i first think of myself
not of you, not of you

if i truly loved you
which i cannot say i yet do
then i would first think of you
and you would first think of me

all then would be well
speaking words of love
without love behind them
is dangerous

love is not just an idle feeling
love is stronger
greater
deeper

love is a commitment
an agreement
a binding
trust

love is a burden
a light burden
but a burden
nonetheless

once declared love never leaves
never for the least nor the greatest
of trials, travails or tragedies
love is eternal, unfailing and true

i cannot say
i love you
yet our friendship brings me
great gladness

were it to blossom
into something more
i would not say
that i would be unhappy

you see, i am still thinking of me
i am not yet thinking of you
i have not yet learned
to love

perhaps that that is because
you have never tried?
come now, there is no harm in trying!
what have we to lose?

at stake, dear friend, is our friendship
if we move to love with what is not love
then we risk everything
for nothing

we would be devoured
all would seem well for a year
or even five, but after ten
all would surely fall apart

years! you speak of years!
we do not have years
we have weeks, if we are blessed
days more likely, for the war is upon us

soothe yourself, friend
there is hope
there is always hope
and i do wish to love

you know not how my mouth wishes to say
yes
yes
let us love

let us kiss
let us rejoice in each other
and i would,
indeed, i would

were it not for the misgivings of my heart
it is close to the soul, the heart
or so they say
what the heart feels, the soul whispers

i feel now that we must remain friends
true friends
as difficult as that may be
until this time of hardship is over

then, when we will have conquered
when we will have achieved peace
our friendship will have become
a hundred times stronger

it will have passed
through the fire
and been tested true
surviving stronger

the first signs of love
that now linger around the edges of hearts
will blossom into something greater
into Love itself

if we attempt to plant the seed now
into frost we have melted with fire
the fire will speedily devour the seed
all will have been lost

what if peace
never comes?
what then?
peace will come

how can you be so sure?
my heart feels this to be true
he said as he stretched out his arms
and wrapped her into a hug

she nestled into him
the moment quickly ended
he took a step back
he gave her a stern look

there was a smile in his eyes
now friend, here is how we go
about securing peace
as you know

the war will surely
arrive here
what we must
do...

the two friends
standing together
after midnight
in the gardens

talked long into the night
of plans
of proceedings
of peace

the first gleams
of the sun in the east
were visible
when they parted

a calm and confidence
rested on both man
and woman as they walked
their separate ways