Of Fear and Love

How then, would you choose for your heart to die?
Harboured behind walls of fearful history,
a castle built to protect, your sanctuary
of slow starvation, a place to be safe,

yet alone, waving from the castle walls,
a thing of beauty seen, but never touched,
slowly hardening to an exquisite perfection,
wondered at as you waste to bones?

Or would you die spectacularly,
leaping from the walls, daring gravity,
full of faith that feeds you, Love
that caresses your soul and skin,

and lifts you above the battle
to spectacular victory or defeat,
feeling each arrow, sling and yet
unconquerable, a soul of myth come to life?

I know my choice,
and it is a fearful one, yet
I will expose my heart, soft
and beautifully vulnerable,

and dare the world
to make it hard.

About this poem

I wrote two poems today, one sad and painful, and this one. I chose this one to publish because… well because I believe in love, even after divorce, depression, and many other struggles. I would rather be vulnerable and love, with all it’s dangers, than hard and dead and safe. It’s really that simple for me.

The picture is of a recent painting.

Tom