LOVE (ləv), noun: an intense feeling of deep affection [Oxford Languages]

“Never love anybody who treats you like you’re ordinary.” Oscar Wilde

Millions of words have been written about romantic love - seeking it, having it, losing it. I imagine that most of us have gone through all of these phases more than once. 

Finding “the one” can be a laborious, frustrating, disappointing, exhausting, and often fruitless endeavor.  I think these aspects of the pursuit are responsible for creation of modern day matchmakers, like eharmony, tindr,  match, and their brethren.  

These services seem to me to be a modern day equivalent of, “Let your fingers do the walking,” which was a catch-phrase used in advertising for the Yellow Pages telephone book. It encouraged potential shoppers to leaf through the Yellow Pages to find a place to buy whatever they were in search of, rather than actually going out from store-to-store themselves. If you’re too young to remember this ad campaign, or even actual paper telephone books, Google it.  I think you’ll find the comparison is an apt one. 

There are hundreds of humorous and insightful quotes about love, but I chose the Oscar Wilde quote to put at the top of this piece because in my experience it is easier to find someone to fall in love with than it is to find someone who loves you in the way you need to be loved. 

Oscar Wilde is right. Only fall in love with someone who treats you like you are extraordinary. Their feelings for you will make you feel extraordinary, and that’s what this poem is about.

ARS EROTICA

When we are joined as one, I feel

Extraordinary
As a grand-slam homer soaring over stadium walls;

Sparkling
As sun-kissed water gleaming on the cobalt sea;

Vibrant
As an F-15 streaking across the azure sky;

Luminescent
As the radiance of victory after a well run race

because that is how you treat me.