The Farthest Wave: Is Knowing Loving?

composed ca. 1990

We love, until we know,
Until the other's faults come glaring
And we turn our faces,
Avoiding the mirror before us.

If I love, but do not know,
What love I, save a mirage?
Or if I know, but do not love
What know I, save cruel facts?

Must knowing prick the heart of love?
Must knowledge scar love's dear face?
Oh! Let not these virtues contend!
I'll not have one without the other.

I will face the mirror boldly
And tightly grip my Saviour's hand.
I will watch the mirror's ugly details
Covered red in my dear Lord's blood.

I am my Lord's creation, known fully by Him
And He who knows me fully
Is the One who loves me truly
And I love, because He first loved me.

Jesus loves you now through me
And by His love I love you.
By loving you I truly know you
And you love me, because He first loved you.

I must ask your forbearance with this poem. The poem begins in a Shakespearean manner, but ends differently, for no apparent reason. The theme is not particularly clear, and wavers a few times. So, why is this poem here? First of all, I don't like to make major edits to my poems once they're "done", though I'll occasionally swap words or change punctuation or whatever. Secondly, if you take your time you should be able to pick out two or more theme-worthy concepts. This is clearly not my best work, but my very best work remains under my wife's lock and key, where it will remain for quite some time.