i cannot love half-assed

i must love well
& intently
& creatively
or the forces within
me turn back upon themselves
and explode. (boom)

Do you want love,
or do you just want
someone to the drive the
loneliness from your life?

Do you want me,
or would anyone do?

Do you want to love in return,
or just respond?

I was not put upon this
earth to test your
reflexes.

Peter McWilliams, The Hard Stuff: Love