Love Of A Kind
There’s a love that’s tainted by self interest, though mostly unconsciously,
And I meaning, that those who're expressing such love, this sad flaw seldom see.
I’m referring to selective love, love with a biased focus, sadly,
As opposed to love that's there for all, and shown unconditionally.
And that being, love that loves for love’s sake, and not for one’s own sake, you see,
Love that is focused outward, not inward — never on, “What’s in it for me?”
Love that puts another’s best interests first, doesn’t act selectively,
Love that treats everybody the same-cum-always behaves impartially.
It’s easy to love the loveable, those whom we're in love with, family,
A spouse, a friend, those who are pleasant and attractive — well, generally.
But it's quite another thing to love unselfishly, to love for love’s sake,
Thus breaking the cycle of partiality in which self has a stake.
Yes, it’s easy to form a circle of friends, and some form a clique, sadly,
They excluding him or her, be they a parent, a child or family.
They taking an interest in some, but not in others, unfeelingly,
All because of what it does for themselves, consciously or unconsciously.
Such isn’t genuine love, but rather, a form of love, one that is flawed,
For its motivation is introverted — that is, linked to some reward.
Thus, unless they are loved in return, or receive something back in some way,
Many simply don’t make the effort, and thereby, a shallowness display.
Yes, it’s easy to like or love those who like or love us, invariably,
But such hardly shows the true state of our heart, and what might that true state be?
For behind that love for our loved ones or friends, there may be indifference,
A bias, prejudice, even negligence — other damming evidence.
So many point at others they deem odd, or at others they don’t care for,
While lavishing much attention on others that they do like or adore.
Yes, love of a kind, love that is limited, love that’s selective, sadly,
Love that isn’t deep enough, pure enough, and the bane of humanity.
By Lance Landall