I once knew a man
pale as fair and slender

He wore a hat made out of his heart
and shoes made from his eyes

He never took them off
no

Every time our eyes met
you could see a faint pumping
of a euphorically beating hunk of flesh
strewn across his head
sewn together with every last dream and hope
he possessed

Does she like me back?
the headwear groaned and ached
with raw want

And the eyes
the eyes glued by his logic
scanning the area
sensitive
alert
What was he stepping into?
Was it safe?

I hope one day he takes them off

Because a hat serves as protection for the skull
but a heart beats to be protected
vulnerability its driving desire

And shoes guide us in the right direction
but our eyes
seem to only see the wrong things