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Friendship Set On Fire
by Domnall Óg

Home >> Friendship Set On Fire

Posted by Domnall Óg
There is no living creature on this planet more romantic than me. Had I lived in the times of the great poets like Byron or Shelley, I might admit to some competition; but here and now – the week of Saint Valentine's Day – I claim my rightful position as the world's most romantic man!

“I love Love—though he has wings/...And like light can flee,â€? wrote Shelley.

“Flee” means run away. Yeah. I know all about that.

I am 44 years old and have had some horrific relationships. It’s only bad luck when you think about it. So, am I bitter? Am I resentful? Is my heart as bruised as a boxer’s kidneys?

Yes.

But failure is not losing. Failure is when you stop trying. And if you stop trying in love, you stop trying in life. Saint Valentine’s Day, properly considered, can help us to persevere.

Love is the sweetest thing. “Amor vincit omnia� or what? It is, we are assured, as perennial as the grass.

When a you’re in love you feel no pain. You see the world through rose-tinted spectacles. “Quand il me prend dans ses bras/ Qu’il me parle tout bas/ Je vois la Vie en Roseâ€? as the French say. The French are experts in love.

I may speak in the tongues of men and angels but if I have no love, I am as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle. Poets, mystics and songwriters have felt, and often said, it all.

Yet love is like wine. You can’t experience it vicariously. I can’t get drunk on the wine you drink. No-one can do it for you. Carpe diem. In the old days young men would write sonnets to stop love driving them crazy.

Of all the gifts a wise Providence grants us, friendship is the most beautiful. I think that love must come from friendship if it is to last. It is friendship set on fire.

Humans being humans can find love an impossible ideal. But where there is a will, there is a way.

On their marriage, a buddhist couple I know were given a small pair of Tibetan cymbals wrapped in silk. Whenever they have difficulties or pain or conflict in their marriage one of them can go and sound the cymbals. When that happens both are silent for half an hour to reflect on the intentions they brought to the marriage. After that, they continue the conversation.

“ If we all discovered that we only had five minutes left to say all that we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people calling other people to tell them that they loved them.� - Anais Nin

Love. Is. Everything.

And when the universe moves mountains and creates unbelievable coincidences to bring you and the person you are to love together – then you should sing and dance and shout with happiness.

As John Lennon said, “Love is the answer. You know that for sure!�

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-—- This Weekly Letter was first published on February 14th 2004
This letter is stored with the following tags: love  valentine  poetry  life 
11 comments for Friendship Set On Fire

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Silueta
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Anonymous

Love is not just a matter of trying is a matter of knowing, a matter of art. It isn’t bad luck that you didn’t make a good picture. It’s that you didn’t find anyone who likes the picture yet. It’s that you’re not talented in painting. It’s that you haven’t practice enough, with enough interest to learn. It’s that you are so expert that it doesn’t seem to be natural. None and all at the same time, but not just a matter of will.
It isn’t important that you are a romantic man. What it is important is how you are romantic. Your way of being romantic. Most of the people love each other, but in such a way that many don’t feel thenselves loved at all.
The yeast is not the love, but the how.

Paloma3
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Paloma

I would like to say I know everything about love but I would lie saying so cause I don’t think I’ve ever been truly in love with someone. I’m still waiting for that magic feeling singers, poets and lovers talk about. Anyway I considere myself a romantic woman, maybe that’s why I’ve not found my prince charming yet, too many wrong ideas about what love is. I’ve grown up reading beautiful fairy tales, those old tales which always finished with the phrase: ”... and they lived happily ever after”. Everything was so perfect, just a look in the eye and they knew it was the right one in front of them; a lot of perils, but never an argument between the two lovers; just perfect. Very difficult to equal in real life. Nevertheless, I go on searching the special one, and no matter how hard he tries to hide from me, I’m going to find him someday! And then I’ll write a new comment telling what I’ve found out about love.
Paloma

Silueta
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Anonymous

I think I used to be the most romantic woman in the world. When I have enough time to see a film or to read a book, I always cry with the love ones. But when you are a married man or woman, there are lots of things that change, specially if you have children….
In this situation, you feel a different kind of love. Because of that, special dates likes Saint Velentine’s day is a perfect excuse to remember the period of time when we were boy and girlfriend. I think that we must try to feel the same everyday but the problems, the children and other things are always around us.
Nevertheless my message to the single people is that If I could I’ll get marriage again…....

Donalgreece2
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Domnall

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It’s easy.
Nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It’s easy.
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.
Nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Silueta
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Miren

If you see a nice “picture” in a showing and have “the magic feeling”, lone at first sight I meen, this active romanticism in your mind.
I noticed two weeks ago the difference between a married person and a boy-girl friend. I heard the conversation of some people. The youngers: love is forever if your relation is long… After some time listening a married one (man, 38 years, 3 children) cut them to say the romanticism finished when you life together.
I heard someone love is like a flowerpot. You must water it if the plant could life.
I think when we are married we forget it sometimes. Although you are romantic and you cry watching a film or reading a book, you must share out this together to feel it really. Everybody can learn to be romantic if he try it. Sometimes a little smile is enough.

Donalgreece2
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Domnall

Romance and love are like theatre.
You can watch “Hamlet” and enjoy the sword fights and costumes. That’s romance.
You can enjoy the words and story. That’s falling in love.
You can appreciate the uniqueness and immensity of the work. That’s love,

Wesleyboda_small
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Wesley

My funny valentine;
Sweet, comic valentine;
You make me smile with my heart.
Your looks are laughable;
Unphotographable;
Yet, you’re my favorite work of art.
Is your figure – less than Greek?
Is your mouth – a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
Don’t change a hair for me;
Not if you care for me;
Stay, little valentine, stay!
Each day is valentine’s day.

Paola
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Paola

My favourite romantic song is “Je t’aime, moi non plus”, but it’s in French…

Paola
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Paola

Okay, in English, perhaps my favourite love song is “Without You” from the musical “Rent”. It is a beautiful duet sung by the main characters, Mimi and Roger:
MIMI
Without you, the ground thaws, the rain falls, the grass grows.
Without you, the seeds root, the flowers bloom, the children play.
The stars gleam, the poets dream, the eagles fly, without you.
The Earth turns, the Sun burns, but I die without you.
Without you, the breeze warms, the girl smiles, the cloud moves.
Without you, the tides change, the boys run, the oceans crash,
The crowd roars, the days soar, the babies cry, without you.
The moon glows, the river flows, but I die without you.
ROGER
The world revives.
MIMI
Colors renew.
BOTH
But I know blue, only blue, lonely blue, within me, blue, without you.
MIMI
Without you, the hand gropes, the ear hears, the pulse beats.
ROGER
Without you, the eyes gaze, the legs walk, the lungs breathe.
BOTH
The mind churns, the heart yearns, the tears dry without you.
Life goes on, but I’m gone, ‘cause I die without you.

Donalgreece2
Re: Friendship Set On Fire by Domnall

I never knew I had such romantic colleagues!

Wesleyboda_small
Rent! by Wesley

Rent! That reminds me of college. I went to see it with a…special friend. My Filipina boss invited me, too…but she called too late! Those were the days…
525,600 minutes. 525,600 moments so dear. How do you measure, measure a year?
In Daylights, in Sunsets?
In Midnights, in Cups Of Coffee?
In Inches, in Miles?
In Laughter, in Strife?
In 525,600 minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?
How about Love?
How about Love?
How about Love?
Measure in Love
Seasons Of Love
Seasons Of Love….

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Posted on http://www.weeklyletter.com at 2006-02-16 09:00:00 +0100

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