Do You Love Her?

by Barbara Thomas, 1972

"Do you love her?" the wise man asks the teenage boy;

"Oh, yes!" the young man replies.

"I love her more than the brightest stars

That shine within her eyes."

"Do you trust her?" he asks the boy with a smile;

"I think so, but I can't be sure.

She was unfaithful, and if I trust her again

Will she step out on me once more?"

"Do you respect her?" the sage asks then of the boy;

The young man lowers his eyes.

And without a word the man understands

What is in the boy's heart, and replies:

"The legs of the three-legged stool called friendship

Are love, trust, respect; but what's more

Without all three the friendship will fall."

Then, with a smile he asks once more,

"Do you love her?" The boy is shocked at his words.

"I love her. What more can I say?"

"Do you love her enough to let her go free?"

And with this the wise man turns away.

"If you love someone, let her go free," he says

As he slowly turns to depart.

"If she does not return, she was not meant for you.

If she does, love her with all your heart."