by

Robert H. Dirr Jr.

I've clutched at hearts then clawed them, like a lion
Opening her prey for nothing more than survival.
Self-preservation is a dedicated task we all share,
By constructing barriers to preserve our hearts.

If my spoken words have punctured your atmosphere,
And made you feel unneeded, I express regret to you.
A dear friendship merits the strength to find tools that
Will chip away at new cracks in my fortifications.

The subject has been broached and talked over in depth.
But your heart swells quicker than I am comfortable
With, and it worries me that I may lose your affection.
Please grant me time, for this is what I saw tonight:

There I stood, a giant wall of emotional scar tissue,
Unable to care or be cared for, and finding I loved it.
But away from the mirror, I witnessed more clearly the
The face of a man who yearns for companionship.

� Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved