to love someone fully
means to open to them
so that nothing remains
and in that opening
is the great cost

the cost of loving
is that
when one of you dies
the pain of separation
and loneliness
will be an agony
only matched
by the loss of a child

but the rewards of loving
in such a way
are worth the pain
the intimacy and surrender into love
is an exquisite fire
that burns up all hope
of salvation

therein lies its great paradox