Advice
by: E. A. Bartholomew

LEARN
   that feet may mar Juturna's spring
     with trampled dust debris,
     but wind will move the tarnished tide to sea;
   that though she flies, the cooing dove
     will never know to sing;
   that no decree
     from up above
     can save our love;
   that weakened, we
     can't but a string
       in Cupid's crowded quiver
         shove

KNOW
   that I step once into a river
     but cannot again,
       for waters now were not the waters then,
       and I and myself past are different men;
   that if you douse the flame of care
     I'll greet you with a shiver;
   that even when
     the stream runs rare
     or flame lacks air
       in Neptune's den,
     they still deliver
       till there's not a thing
         to spare