Read the passage
love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
for love is sufficient unto love.
when you love you should not say, ‘god is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘i am in the heart of god.’5
and think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
but if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.10
to know the pain of too much tenderness.
to be wounded by your own understanding of love;
and to bleed willingly and joyfully.
to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give for another day of loving;
to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; 15
to return home at eventide with gratitude;
and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
in this line from the passage, the word meditate suggests
a) resting in the afternoon.
b) taking a break from love.
c) sleeping the rest of the day.
d) reflecting upon the joys of love.
2)

love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
for love is sufficient unto love.
what personality trait would you give to love based on these lines from the selection?
a) beautiful
b) dangerous
c) possessive
d) unselfish
3)

love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
and think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
what inference can you make from the comparison of lines two and five?
a) love will ensure that god is in your heart.
b) love is a valued possession for those worthy of love.
c) you will be the guide if your life is filled with love.
d) with love, you are not in charge; you cannot own or lead it.
4)
in line 2 of the passage, how is love interpreted by the phrase possesses not?
a) love is greedy.
b) love is selfish.
c) love is selfless.
d) love is materialistic.
5)
which emotion is personified in this poem?
a) joy
b) love
c) pain
d) tenderness
6)
which statement best states the theme of this poem?
a) anyone can fall in love.
b) love is risky and should be avoided.
c) love causes people to become irrational.
d) love is the greatest of all human experiences.