Aspects of Love (II)

II

Love? We should smother it
And push it up the chimney –
He said, half meaning it.
We know now what he intended
For finding love at their door
On a cold night, people – if they are wise –
Will push it up the chimney into the smoke before
It wails at them with such clenched desire
As will bring into the quiet house
The significant ecstatic loss.

-Ruth Miller