Day 3: The Arbiter

You wish to love? The arbiter considers this request.

It turns its heavy, red-rimmed eyes upon its eager guest.

This love is within reason?

“No,” the supplicant replies.

I see, returns the arbiter. I see. Request denied.

“But wait. Love within reason? No – for how can such love be?”

Within the bonds of law, it says, or else in chastity.

“What law cracks its own cornerstone or its own god commands?

What statute can love’s aim direct and love’s great gales withstand?

“Love rises where it please, and there the whole self yearns to go,

In union only made complete—

You are mistak’n. 
                                      “Not so.

“For love is of both earth and heav’n, the two attained as one.

We cannot excise flesh from soul; why love in one alone?

“A chaste love is a love half lost.”

Then half needs must suffice.

With grace receive your portion; lay aside this shrewd device.

“You are deceived”: A new voice rises, hard and edged with blame.

“You bind us without cause, slave to a master you can’t name.

“You poor unwitting mason of the walls that close you in.

Austerity’s no virtue, but a pawn in greater sin.

“The powerful use codes of shame to break the people’s will,

So, lovers, love defiantly! That’s greater power still.”

My stock is not with virtue, says the arbiter, nor rule.

I bow to none but reason. I am no rebellion’s fool.

“Love’s beyond reas’n!” the first now cries. “A greater law is She!

To offer Self as sacrifice—how noble, holy we!

Dare we snuff out what is sacred?”

Yes, when reason wills it so.

And if we fail, then love unvoiced.

The second counters, “No!

“Is reason freedom’s cancer, to compel inaction foul?

Deception! That we’d keep our peace when all our soul’s a-howl!”

Inaction isn’t apathy, denial not deceit.

Our flesh is free to rail and rage and find its odd release,

But let it not be found in love thus meanly simplified.

So wearily the arbiter repeats, Request denied.

“Oh reason so unreas’nable!” they cry with one accord.

“On whose behalf are we denied? For whose sake slander love?

Dare you protect us from ourselves?”

I do, it says. I do.

I sit this seat for just that cause, for us and others, too. 

For we are not alone, recall, in love nor in its vows.

So please …” its voice diminishes, its head still deeper bows.

“Your law’s corrupt and cursed! If you’re deposed our way is won!

In love will we be proven! Step aside! Your reign is done!”

The arbiter moves not, and as they start their bold advance,

Be still! it cries, and lifts its face to halt them with its glance;

For in the eyes of judgment swims a grief that never wanes,

The echo of a loss that colors all that yet remains;

Engraved upon its cheeks, the weeping lines run fresh with woe,

And from its trembling lips fall trembling words in timber low:

O if, with just two fingers we should dare caress her wrist,

And if the breath of stars should arc between us when we kissed,

And if her soft and gentling lips should draw our parts to whole,

And if we should dissolve into the ocean of her soul,

What then? Who bears the consequence of love’s brave enterprise?

Who stands the risk of drowning within love’s relentless tides?

It’s she will pay the ransom for the proof of our ideal.

I will not watch her burn upon the pyre of our zeal.

You’ll have her not; not now, for now I’ve strength to countervail.

Begone. Forget this love, that for her love must surely fail.

The supplicants, defeated, turn to grudging disappear,

When from a weak and wav’ring voice one final charge they hear:

I cannot stay you always. Such a radiant light is she.  

Go think awhile, and then bring your petition back to me.