By Peggy Strickland, peggys@datasys.net
Date: 26 May 1998

Heartfelt

When young...in love...a child...a bride...my heart would overflow
With joy, with hope, with endless dreams...no fetters did it know.
Upon my sleeve it bravely rode, for all the world to see..
As if to say, "Wound not this one.  A gentle soul has she."

The body grew.  The flesh embraced the senses as on cue.
A mate...a lover...snared the heart; made one where once were two.
He praised the goodness that he found within this fragile breast
And to protect the tender heart, he could but do his best.

With malice, though he had not meant, to get his points across
A thoughtless word, a scornful glance...What pain my heart he cost!

In self defense, it could not stay in peril thus exposed
But fled within a cold, dark place; in terror there reposed.

My love frowned long upon the tears his harshness brought to light.
And said, "Why cry, and not defend?  Why not stand fast, and fight?"

My heart then hardened in my breast.  My armor I put on.
No longer meek and sweet and kind; a battle I had won.

I went before my true love thus; from day to day grew stronger.
Until a time, so much I changed, that he could bear no longer.

"You've gone from me!" he cried, in pain.  "Where fled my gentle bride?"

"Be careful lest he hurt you more," my heart said, deep inside.

I said, "I'm what I've always been, deep in my heart of hearts.
To show the world my truest self is when the hurting starts.
I've loved you well and always shall, but can't you truly see?
The changes that you suffer now, it's you have made in me.
My heart bides now within a wall it built out of despair.
And aches from wounds inflicted, now you only can repair."

"What once we had together can," he said, "be so again.
I'll do whatever deed it takes, if you'll but say I can.
I loved you as a timid bride.  I love you as life's mate.
I'll love you for your sweetest self.  Please say it's not too late."

My heart then shyly ventured forth, from eyes that filled with tears.
My love shone bright from deep within...not dimmed by many years.

Together we will mend the heart, for it is our last prayer.
To thrive upon this cold, hard earth
We must not fear to care.