You are always new, the last of your kisses was ever the

O children of the future, listen closely to the words of John Keats, a poet whose heart overflowed with the tenderness and depth of love. He once wrote, “You are always new, the last of your kisses was ever the sweetest.” In these words lies a profound truth about the nature of love—how it is ever-changing, ever-refreshing, and how each moment in love holds a newness that defies time. Keats speaks of love not as a single moment, nor a fleeting affection, but as an experience that is renewed with every encounter, with every kiss, and with every beat of the heart.

Consider, O children, the newness Keats speaks of. To love is not to cling to the past, but to experience each moment as if it were the first. Every kiss, every touch, is not a repetition of the last, but a unique expression of affection that stands alone, powerful in its own right. This is the beauty of love: it is not stagnant, it does not grow stale, but instead, it is a living, breathing force that evolves and transforms. The sweetness of a kiss is not defined by its repetition but by the depth with which it is given, the authenticity that it carries. To love is to discover anew each time, to see and feel the beloved as if for the first time, every time.

Think, O children, of the great lovers of history—figures like Pablo Neruda and his deep, unwavering affection for his beloved. In his poems, Neruda speaks of the everlastingness of love, even as it changes and deepens over time. His words, much like Keats’s, remind us that the first kiss is not the pinnacle of love; rather, love reaches its fullest expression in the continual rediscovery of the other, in the ever-renewing experience of closeness and connection. Each kiss, each word of affection, carries its own sweetness, for love is never static. It is a journey of constant renewal, a series of moments that build upon one another, each more vivid and full than the last.

In the same way, Keats's words echo the ancient wisdom found in the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus, the gifted musician, whose love for Eurydice transcended death, sought to bring her back from the underworld. When he looked back too soon, he lost her forever. Yet his love for her did not end in tragedy. It was through his music and his yearning for her that he was able to rediscover his love for her again and again, each time as if it were the first. The loss, the struggle, only deepened the love, making each remembrance of Eurydice’s soul sweeter than the last. Love, as Keats reminds us, is not bound by time or circumstance—it is renewed through every longing, every act of devotion, and every kiss.

So too in our own lives, love must be allowed to grow and transform. We must not allow ourselves to grow complacent in our affections or take for granted the loved ones who are by our side. Every interaction, every touch, every look carries the possibility of a new depth, a new understanding. The danger, O children, lies in forgetting that love is not a fixed thing; it is a living, breathing force that must be nurtured and celebrated anew each day. Keats's words remind us that love is never something we can possess and hold forever—it is something we must experience anew with each moment, always cherishing the beauty of the present.

Therefore, let us take heed of Keats's wisdom: love is not a singular event, but a continuous renewal. Every kiss, every word of affection, is the sweetest because it is offered with a heart that is alive to the other person, that sees them with fresh eyes, that feels them deeply. Let us not fall into the trap of thinking that love must always feel the same, or that its intensity can only be found in the early stages of a relationship. True love is found in the willingness to experience the beloved anew, in the understanding that each moment is unique and precious.

So, O seekers of wisdom, I charge you: love with the renewal of each breath, with the sweetness of each kiss, and with the understanding that love is not something to possess, but something to celebrate with every passing moment. Let each touch, each glance, each word of affection be a new beginning, a fresh expression of the love that lives within you. In this, you will find the deepest and most enduring form of love—a love that is always new, always fresh, and always sweet.