This Is How I Learned to Love

I made a door of my wound

and through that door

I pushed out all impurities

with the aid of invisible forces

who helped me disappear.

And via the door of that wound

I began to invite people inside

without the least discrimination

willing to share

in my atmosphere.

It became clear to me:

this is how I learned to love.

Now anyone can enter in,

my body a mere shell, a husk,

though cherished

as a child's carved pumpkin

lit by my heart’s last candle.

Peter Valentyne

June 2011