Friendship

Twixt Love and Chaos lies a borderland
Love dare not enter-
Not a step upon that dread kingdom;
Standing kingless, with doubt as its guardian-
Love may not enter. Yon, yon, yon,
Standing far beyond, is a land
Of promising. Love, Chaos and Promise.
How then may Love traverse the way?
A twain who love are fevered-
Love holds not reason.
Reason is the ash of Love's fire!
Yet He hath lain a staff at the entrance of Chaos.
'Tis neither beauteous nor gaud-betipped.
Nay, if love will halt an instant aside of doubt,
And stooping, pluck up from the dust
This staff, he then may enter unafraid.