Many people think Amor shoots them with an arrow
and they feel love. This is not quite so.
It is true that, when the arrow hits the heart,
pain awakes us from our self-absorbed slumber.
But real love begins when Amor approaches you
to collect his arrow, for he has a small quiver
and, besides, it would be inconvenient for the victims
to walk around with arrows sticking out of their chests.
When Amor throws you on your back, puts his foot
on your belly and twists the arrow between your ribs
to loosen it, and then pulls it out – this is when love begins,
for one can never love what one hasn't lost
and one can never love when one feels intact,
love is an open wound, an escape for the soul.