Not blind obedience

Not blind obedience
           not adulation
or mere submission
           to your will
Nor expectation
           of perfection
but rather
           of all that is
human
           foibles included
moments of doubt
           hesitations 

A willingness to accept
           one’s failings
along with those
           of another
to coexist in a space
           that is loving
and forgiving
           never wanting
to better the other
           never judging
or condescending
           or back-biting

A love that transcends
           our inadequacies
but true to its strengths
           to its delicacy of touch
the sincerity of its kiss
           free from manufacture
one soul upon another
           in celebration

John Lyons