For love is a captive

If love were a captive 

and came to you in chains

And gave to you the key 

would love with you remain? 

Would love with you remain 

with rattle and scrape of chains 

As if across some dungeon-ed floor 

toiled love forevermore? 

And would love forevermore 

be locked behind some pinnacled door

Be manacled by some rusting chain 

just so, with you, could love remain? 

If I were love 

and you held the key 

Would you choose for me chains 

or choose to set me free?

And if you choose 

to set me free 

Would I be love…? 

For love is a captive 

given as a spoil 

And even with key in reach 

Love of itself will choose to toil.