July 2002
How many nights
alone
tempered my heart, made it strong
each dream, a hammer to the steel
each waking, one day closer to the time
the time when the heart bends, flexes, parrys
without noticing, without any change
but your embrace
warms the steel
but your kiss
corrodes the folds
my blade has dulled and stuck
only by your grace does it remain whole
years wasted
honing a blade too easily shattered
and I see my fault
praying that the steel holds
knowing you could rend it
and thinking, “next time it shall be a shield.”