My Love Will Stand

(The Warrior of Love)

Ummmmmmmm…

Dear One:
Master of Love…

Is Love always gentle?

Master:
With the wounded—
yes.

Is Love always soft?
No, Dear One.

Then when is Love fierce?

When something precious
is threatened.

And what does Love do?

Love stands.

My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!

When fear says run,
when hatred commands—

Feet on the earth,
heart in my hands—

No life left undefended!
My Love will stand!

No hunger for battle,
no worship of war—

But cruelty comes
no farther than this door!

My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!

Does Love wear armor?
When tenderness
must be protected.

Does Love carry a shield?
When another has none.

Does Love draw a sword?
Only when every gentler answer
has failed—
and the blow
will not stop.

Does Love enjoy the fight?
Never.

Then why does Love fight?
Because the vulnerable
must not stand alone.

Does anger govern the Warrior?
No!

Does vengeance govern the Warrior?
No!

Does fear govern the Warrior?
No!

Then what governs the Warrior?

Love governs strength!
Love governs strength!
Love governs strength!

Master…

Someone I Love
is drowning.
Then reach for them.

But they pull me under.
Then find solid ground.

Can I save them?
You cannot choose life
in another person’s place.

Must Love always stay?
No.

Then leaving can be Love?
Sometimes leaving
is how Love survives.

Does the Warrior
also protect me?
You, too,
are among the vulnerable.

My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!

I will not feed
what devours you!

I will not call
your chains your freedom!

No wound called loyalty,
no fear called devotion—

My Love stands
on the side of life!

My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!

Can I Love my enemy?
Yes.

Must I let my enemy
devour the innocent?
Never.

What if cruelty
wears a crown?

Love does not bow.

What if cruelty
writes the law?

Love answers
to a deeper law.

What if everyone says—
Wait?

Ask those in danger
how long they have.
And if silence keeps me safe?

Ask who pays
for your silence.

How does the Warrior
face evil
without becoming evil?

Protect—
do not punish.

Stop the harm—
do not worship the fight.

And when the threat
has ended?

Lower the weapon.
Remove the armor.
Let yourself be held.

Can the Warrior weep?
The Warrior must.

The tears are proof
the armor never reached the heart.

Gentle with the wounded!
Gentle with the wounded!

Fierce with what wounds them!
Fierce with what wounds them!

Strong enough to shield!
Wise enough to yield!

Brave enough to fight!
Brave enough to heal!

My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!

Your Love will stand!
Your Love will stand!

Side by side—
heart beside hand!

Love is not helpless!
LOVE WILL STAND!

Where does the Warrior sit?
At the Roundtable of Love.

What does the Warrior bring?

The courage to say—
Not this.
Not here.
Not while I can stand.

And whom does the Warrior serve?
Love!

Ummmmmmmm…

My strength answers to Love…
My strength answers to Love…

My courage answers to Love…
My courage answers to Love…

My Warrior answers to Love.

My Love will stand.
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!
My Love will stand!