All Life's Contraries

I never knew mistrust and doubt

Could be the intimates of love,

Snuffing joy's candle out

And sorrow like an injured dove

Cry so softly in its pain,

But now I see that love is blind,

At least love on the human plane

Distorted by desire-mind

And failing to widen out, embrace

Anger and disillusionment

Filling the hurt and empty place

Solaced by the soul's consent

As a quivering note on a single fret

Where all life's contraries are met.