Denise Levertov | “Prayer for Revolutionary Love”

That a woman not ask a man to leave meaningful work to follow her.
That a man not ask a woman to leave meaningful work to follow him.

That no one try to put Eros in bondage.
But that no one put a cudgel in the hands of Eros.

That our loyalty to one another and our loyalty to our work not be set in false conflict.

That our love for each other give us love for each other’s work.
That our love for each other’s work give us love for each other.

That our love for each other, if need be, give way to absence. And the unknown.

That we endure absence, if need be, without losing our love for each other. Without closing our doors to the unknown.