Poetry Page 
 

A Behaviorist to His Love

Alan C. Elms

Love, let me summarize my love for you:
You are the S to all my fondest Rs.
I love the Gestalt of your face, and view
primary reinforcement in the stars
your eyes hold. That dependent variable, my heart,
I measure by the deprivation of your smile,
your intervening kindness praying the while.
My love was unconditioned from the start.

Extinction never shall my love attend:
My adoration is a positively-
accelerated asymptotic curve.
No millionth kiss will exhaust my response reserve.
So partially reinforce me not, but be
my need-reducing agent till time's end.

 
 
 
 
 
Copyright (c) 1959 by Penn State Froth.
Reprinted by permission.

 
Back to the Poetry Menu
(Virtual Library, Alan C. Elms)

Articles Books Poetry Recipes
 

Home  Orientation  Virtual Library  Personality Theory  Psychobiography  Publications in Print  Science Fiction  Personal Info 

All text, graphics and content of the Ulmus.net website
are Copyright © 1999-2001 by Ulmus.net.
All rights reserved.
Need help? Email the Webmaster.