(From) Aspects of Love

BY RUTH MILLER

Love? We should smother it
And push it up the chimney-
He said, half meaning it.
We know now what he intended
For finding love at their door
On a cold night, people-if they are wise-
Will push it up the chimny into the smoke before
It wails at them with such clenched desire
As will bring into the quiet house
The significant ecstatic loss.