Larceny

Listen,
love is not an emotion.
It’s sturdier stuff than a passing devotion.
Call it tradition or absurd,
It’s less in the feeling, more in the word.
Listen,
love is not an age-old tradition
It’s a steadiness sworn with condition.

Calling it “traditional” doesn’t make it outdated,
It's the same bargain, freshly decorated.
Society calls it duty, culture calls it fate,
Binding them fast with burdens great.

Love is law
Not ribbons and song
We prettied it up
And got it all wrong.

If you tear down the roses
and the violins’ part,
love is a contract
that governs the heart.

Love and lust are just the same,
both plead insanity and dodge the blame.
One files the paperwork, the other runs free,
but both are excuses for biology.

I am a law‑abiding citizen of nature’s decree,
outside her covenant, love for me is larceny.