Love Like Strangers

For a while we walked
between the pillars of ancient marble,
we walked when the moon was full
and the ruins took the hue of bone.
For a while we talked
of pleasantries: of birds and weather,
of how the city enjoyed its gown of leaves,
we left the somber mood behind
laughing quietly as the final hope of sunset
dropped beneath the trees.
She asked me
where I'd been, what caused my eyes
to linger in the dusk
what things of night had chilled my soul
I turned away
not willing to forgive the secrets
how well you look, I said
She touched my cheek
and you have aged beyond your years
my years are many, but here we are again
to walk beneath the moon.

HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING?
YOU TURN TO ME, AND KISS.
YOU HOLD ME UNDER A SUBJUGATION.
WHY? YOU SMILE.
THERE ARE NO WORDS
FOR THE PART OF ME THAT DIES
WITH EVERY HARSH WORD.
I CANNOT SEE BEHIND
YOUR COOL AND CONFIDENT EYES.
THEY LAUGH AT ME.
YOU CANNOT ESCAPE.
EVERYONE IS CAUGHT
WITHIN A WEB OF FEAR.
YOU BLINK, AND ALL MY FEARS
BECOME A TORTURE,
SLOWLY GRINDING AWAY
A NAIVE SHELL AND
LEAVING ME STRANDED IN REALITY.

I HAVE HIDDEN FOR YEARS
COWERING IN A BLINDNESS
IMPOTENT AGAINST HIS RAGE
I SEARCH FOR SUBMISSION
BRINGING THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ACCEPT NO WAY BUT THEIRS

I FALL LOWER AND TEARS
PASS THROUGH MY HANDS LIKE
WINE COUNTING DOWN MY FEARS
FOR TOO LONG I HAVE HIDDEN
FROM THIS MAN TOO LONG
THE MANY SPITES HAVE STUNG
TOO LATE I SEE MY SUBMISSION
INTO FEAR