LAST LOVE

WHEN WILL YOUNG LOVERS REALIZE THAT FIRST LOVE SHOULD BE LAST LOVE? FORGET INFATUATON, LUST OR CONVENIENCE. I MEAN THAT TRUE LOVE - THAT FIRST FACE AND VOICE MISSED, THAT BESTOWER OF THE FIRST MAGICAL, ALIEN, PHYSICAL FEELINGS, THAT BEARER OF THE FIRST FEAR OF DESTINY - WHO SHOULD ALSO BE THE LAST. BUT YOUTH IN THE THROES OF FIRST LOVE OFTEN DON'T GET IT. CONSIDER THE FUTILE AND CONSTANT SEARCHES FOR 'LOVE' IN THE TRASHLAND CALLED HOLLYWOOD. WE WERE ALL WALLFLOWERS - ONCE - WAITING AND WATCHING FOR THE RIGHT ONE, SO READY TO FALL, TO EMBRACE FIRST LOVE. THE WRITING ON THE WALL OF LOVE, HOWEVER, READS "COMMITMENT." AFTER THE PERFECT FALL SHAKESPEARE'S WORDS IN HIS SONNET #116 OFTEN GO UNHEEDED.

"LET ME NOT TO THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS/
ADMIT IMPEDIMENTS. LOVE IS NOT LOVE/
WHICH ALTERS WHEN IT ALTERATION FINDS.

WHEN THE BELOVEDS FIND FLAWS, THEY ATTEMPT TO FORCE CHANGES. WHEN PROBLEMS OR PAINS OF SHARING LIVES INCREASE, LOVERS CLAIM THEIR LOVES FADE. YET THE PLAYWRIGHT'S INSIGHT HOLDS TRUE. LOVE SHOULD NOT ALTER WHEN IT FINDS DEVIATIONS FROM A ONCE PERCEIVED PERFECTION OF LOVE. PERCEIVED IS THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE. ALTERATIONS ARE IMPERFECTIONS; WHEREAS LOVE IS PERFECT; LOVE IS TRUE. IF FIRST LOVE IS LOVE, FIRST LOVE IS TRUE LOVE. FIRST LOVE SHOULD LAST FOREVER FULFILLED IN ITS VORTEX .