"Echoes of Empty Love"

In whispers, they claim to adore, Their hearts beating with love, or so they explore. But do they truly grasp the weight of the word? Or is it just a fleeting feeling, a moment's blur? Love is not a flame that flickers bright, A temporary high, a selfish delight. It's not a game of give and take, Where one's own desires are the only stake. Love is a journey, a path unwound, A choice to make, a commitment profound. It's the acceptance of flaws, the embracing of pain, The willingness to grow, to learn, to sustain. But how can one love another, truly and deep, When they've not learned to love themselves, to keep? The foundation of love, the starting point, is within, A self-love that's genuine, not just a skin-deep kin. For when we love ourselves, we're free to give, To offer love that's pure, without expectation to live. We're not seeking validation, or a temporary high, We're sharing love that's rooted, a love that won't die. So let's not be fooled by fleeting happiness, Or the empty claims of love that are merely a caress. Let's seek the real thing, the love that's true, The love that starts within, and shines right through.