Love itself

It was so easy to fall in love
When I was young.
I was such a romantic,
Ahead of my time,
But just in time
For the pain of loss.
Each failed relationship
Weighed heavily on the next.
I tried a little less
Each time
And failed more grandly.
Love is never equal.
Ever.
And too often
When she was in love,
I was not.
There was never parity.
And now I’m afraid
To fall in love.
I entertain the idea
Of never being in love.
It hurts,
But maybe not so much
As love itself.