A heart not calloused but blistered:
Nerves oversensitive cause me to flinch At even the gentlest touch; I'm afraid, Afraid I will get burned again by proximity To something warm and friendly, Because what if the wick is short again, Supporting a fire burning hotly But only for a moment, Leaving me scorched and my eyes blinking, Seeing only the reverse images of what was. "You can't look at the sun directly." That's what they tell me. "You can't look at the sun directly, Or you'll go blind." But you ask me to look you full in the face Every moment of every day. You tell me flames are part of this journey, Blue-hot flames that consume things instantly, Yet you say I will not be consumed If I keep looking at you, straight at you, As everything else turns to ash. There's not another invitation like this Anywhere else in the universe; You alone have eyes of pure fire. Can you forgive my hesitancy? I know it wasn't you that burned me, But I never thought anyone would, So trusting another beating heart is scary, I'm scared there will be nothing left of me If I submit to looking at you and letting you Look right back at me, piercing me through With those eyes, those eyes, those eyes -- Fully fearsome and fully kind, You see my fear and hold me there, Your gaze surrounds me, Your intensity somehow brings a cooling peace, Soothing my insecurity with your surety: You are warmth in true form, lasting fire, Wild and perfectly self-controlled. Comments are closed.
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AuthorI write to process. I write to explore. I write with the hope of sharing truth greater than my own. Archives
February 2022
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