I was born with a flame in my heart
A fire behind my eyes; spit-fire through and through
I was destined to burn, to smolder, to turn to ash

This candlesque heart, I have guarded
with an airtight fortress, a heavy stone

Over the years, the days, and by the second
my fire dwindled to a flicker and was put out altogether
In spite of my wariness, my caution, my care
For I had ****** the oxygen out of my heart

The very Breath of God I had shut out

Today, I invite Him in
Today, my walls come down
Today, my heart burns brightly
and so it may be Forever and Ever, Amen

a hundred and eight hallow pomegranate seeds
slip through Rose's fingers
a hundred and eight cries from her knees
that Mother will watch son
through winter

I'm just saying,
if I had to, I would.
I'd do it all again

A Victorian farmhouse
four kids
a cat
love

no
gut punch
dampened cheeks
imposed character development

Women in my life
have lifted me up
My heart was but brittle, hardened clay
unworkable

Gently and slowly on the potter's wheel
My heart was spun
by a village of mothers
Formed to beat again
Formed to love

The oriental dragon
that stretches up my spine
protects the treasures of my soul
one day he will burst furth
a volcano rocketing up
bringing us to our eternal rest
And the gold he protected will be shared

Lay me down in soft moss
Let me rest beneath the trees
as they sway softly in the wind
Let the moss grow up around me
As who I once was fades
and who I need to be today
grows

Love demands action
the butterflies are worthless
flittering from corner to corner
Let them out of the cage you have made!
They will no longer suffice trapped
if you want to love me
Do so