Not Love, but Pity

[joel]

Not Love, but Pity may my soul receive
from you - yet isn't Pity still the heart
of Love? Not pity like a grievance paid
to beggar hearts, but preferential love
that oozes viscous, liberally upon
some naked, brittle object with delight
unstoppable as Pity's perfect grace
of movement. Pity such as this I trace
(at least in all attentions benedight)
that falls from you in love when Love is gone
away from early happenstances of
unraveled sensuality. I've prayed
to more than lovely love you; and apart
from Pity, No--true Love I'd not believe.