Love Doesn’t Cost a Thing

Love is not love without sacrifice
It isn't love without the blood that sufficed
Love is everything that transpired at the cross
It is God's only begotten son.

Love is not love if it isn't pure
It isn't love if it doesn't endure
A love that's sure, ensures
That our deepest interest it secures.

Love is not love if it recounts offenses
It isn't love if it's always defensive
Or lies and is full of pretenses
Love is love that admits to wrongs and confesses.

Love builds a bridge where doubt may reside
It offers forgiveness, deep and wide
Through empathy's lens, it sees the other side
Love is compassion, a constant guide.

Love finds its strength in vulnerability's embrace
In shared joys and tears, it finds its rightful place
A tender touch, a heartfelt space
Love's a journey of growth, a soulful grace.

Breakdown of the Poem: Love’s Definition

Stanza 1:

• This stanza sets the foundation for the poem’s definition of love.
• It emphasizes that true love requires sacrifice. The line “the blood that sufficed” is a clear reference to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, suggesting love’s ultimate act of selflessness.
• Love is then equated with the events of the crucifixion, highlighting the importance of suffering and devotion in its expression.

Stanza 2:

• Here, the poem explores the qualities of true love.
• It states that love must be pure and enduring.
• The line “A love that’s sure, ensures / That our deepest interest it secures” suggests that true love protects and prioritizes the well-being of the one loved.

Stanza 3:

• This stanza focuses on what love isn’t.
• It rejects love that keeps score of wrongs (“recounts offenses”) and avoids taking responsibility (“defensive”).
• Lies and pretenses are also condemned, highlighting the importance of honesty and authenticity in true love.
• The final line defines true love as something that acknowledges and confesses mistakes.

Stanza 4:

• This stanza introduces the concept of love as a bridge.
• It suggests that love can overcome doubts and create connection.
• Forgiveness is presented as a key aspect of love, offered “deep and wide.”
• Empathy is emphasized as a tool for understanding the other person’s perspective.
• Ultimately, love is portrayed as a guiding force, offering compassion.

Stanza 5:

• This stanza explores the strength found in vulnerability.
• True love thrives when both partners are open and emotionally available.
• Shared experiences, both joyful and sorrowful, are seen as ways to deepen the bond.
• Tenderness and emotional connection (“heartfelt space”) are highlighted.
• The poem concludes by describing love as a journey of growth (“soulful grace”).

This poem offers a multifaceted definition of love. It starts with the concept of sacrifice and devotion, then explores the qualities of purity, endurance, honesty, and forgiveness. Finally, it emphasizes empathy, vulnerability, shared experiences, and emotional connection as aspects of love that lead to growth.

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