My fears are not
That I may cease to be
Rooted steadfast embodied
In a world of physicality
And without fears too
For the deserted drying
Of heartfelt words or inspiration
Forever drawn to all my time Spent in dedication
For no greater pleasure do I feel, may’st I apply
Whilst chained, imprisoned in this dimension
My only freedom, flight of soul, needs must express
Such a deep felt love, for all humanity
A curious quest, I cannot explain
Impression’d on high from an invisible plane
So sublime, that poetic craft
Is not required for meter, or to rhyme
Unless such craft imply, inject, ripened hearts
With the jewel of ‘inner meaning’
Inner-truth infused with love
All-pervading and genuine
Connecting precious principals beyond mere words
Which seek to make whole, thus human kind
In complete align
So that intelligent insights into our complex Universe
May penetrate, not only the heart but also the skin and the mind
Whereupon tinsel-gilded illusions
May fall away into nothingness
Instead replaced by a delicacy, and a gentleness
A refinement of the senses
Through an indiscriminate understanding
That the elixir of love
Is wisdom plus integrity
And connects us all
To every single living being, or entity.
___
Lyrics by Cat Catalyst
‘Elixir of Love’ (above) was written in response to the sonnet: ‘When I have Fears’ by John Keats. Keats sent his sonnet in a letter to his friend John Hamilton Reynolds in January 1818.
‘When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean’d my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charact’ry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen’d grain;
When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till Love and Fame to Nothingness do sink.’
Another Keats quote: ‘I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the truth of Imagination‘ that he wrote in a letter to his friend Bailey (Full letter here) had the same effect upon me and inspired Holiness of the Heart.
‘Elixir of Love’ has been published in the following anthologies:
Forward Poetry: Love is in the Air – Vol 1 (2015)
Poets for World Healing (2012)
Poets for World Peace (2012)
A Poetically Spoken Anthology (2011)
Reach Poetry (2010)
Love Made Visible LP (2025)
Review of Elixir Of Love
Summary
Elixir Of Love is a soulful meditation on love as a transcendent force that binds all humanity together. The poem rejects superficial artifice in favor of heartfelt expression, describing love as an “elixir” that blends wisdom with integrity to connect every living being. Through rich imagery and thoughtful reflections, it captures love’s power to inspire, heal, and illuminate the human experience.
Why This Poem Matters
This poem stands out because of its profound insight into the nature of love—not just as feeling, but as an essential, transformative wisdom. The poet’s choice to move beyond conventional poetic form highlights a purity of message over mechanics, making the poem feel intimate and sincere.
Lines such as:
“My only freedom, flight of soul / Needs must express / Such a deep felt love for all humanity”
reveal the writer’s deep dedication to conveying universal compassion and connection. The poem’s reflection on poetic craft as a vessel for “inner meaning / Inner truth infused with love” emphasizes love’s power to penetrate beyond words.
Moreover, the poem’s articulation of love as:
“Wisdom plus Integrity / And connects us all / To every single living being, or entity.”
offers readers a fresh lens to understand love’s role in healing and unity. It speaks directly to the shared human condition, inviting readers to embrace love not only emotionally but intellectually and spiritually.
In Conclusion
Elixir Of Love is a beautiful example of the poet’s ability to blend heartfelt emotion with spiritual truth. Its gentle yet powerful voice encourages reflection on what it truly means to love and be loved. For readers drawn to poetry that explores the deeper, sacred aspects of human connection, this poem is a compelling and enriching piece, perfectly aligned with the themes woven throughout the entire collection.
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