1978-07-25

Ego-bound mirrors reflecting each other
I turn uneasy beneath cautions born of self-preservation
neither of us can say our heart
without fear and some reserve
and I wonder if she or I or the both of us
are the cause.

Every criticism I think to give her
applies to me equally well
and I see again and again
how I must look to her and the others

I give her the truth in all things that concern her
and yet the self-barriers come down so hard between us.

I’m poor at waiting for my heart to turn
I want my life to simplify
not to avoid these new truths I wrestle with
between security and freedom’s edge
but just in how I wrestle them with another.

We’ve got to speak our minds to advance
or to break off
and I’m so poor at waiting.

gallagher

25 jul 78

— Copyright 1965-2008 by Dennis Gallagher —

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