To be honest, part of me isn't entirely sure that the original point of it was supposed to be romance, and is puzzled by its possible modern reinterpretation as one. I suspect it might have been more of a warning: "If you're gonna be in love, don't be these guys."

Now a story about a place where a humanoid bird can love a humanoid fish, thst would beat the Capulet/Montague thing to me. :P