The Patient Heart

The patient heart that beats within
My battered, bloody chest
Has been beating for so many years
And has always stood time’s test.

Ripped out, crushed, broken in two
Time and time again.
I really have to marvel
At the places it has been.

A teenage crush, a life’s partner
Both have metered its beat.
And at the appropriate time
Have caused my heart’s defeat.

I stood right up and counted
The heart beats per minute,
In disbelief and amazement
That there were beats left in it.

Does that mean my heart
Is more resilient than yours?
Or could it possibly mean
My spirit just endures?

I never made the decision
To join my life with another
Only to have my heart broken
Too late, I did discover.

Would I choose to enter in
A union that would cause pain?
Risking sadness and heartbreak
Time and time again?

Fear of love, fear of loss
Fear of having to let go
Fear of being forever alone,
Are things, of which, I know.

The human heart is frail
And stronger than an ox.
But first, before giving it,
Put your fears behind locks.

Easier said than done,
You sniff, as your retort.
Easier done than said,
It you have the right support.

If you choose someone to love
With your eyes wide open,
And recognize love when you see it,
In deeds, not just words spoken.

Finding real love another time
Can help, your fears, to spurn.
Finding someone to love all of you
Asking only for your love in return.

To have someone love you,
Fully, and without fear
Is truly quite a miracle
Something to be held dear.

Love is not something to cast off lightly
To reject or to make jest,
Look carefully at what you might lose,
When you deny love’s request.

To ask someone to wait while you finish work
Leftover from chapters passed.
Is really quite appropriate,
If the new love is to last.

The time to work on closing
The pages of your past life
Was long before you got here
With this new woman you seem to like.

You had no reason to do the work
You were comfortable in your rut
Safe and sound and sorry
Too lazy to get off your butt.

Now you risk a loss in your life
That’s larger than those past,
For you have the opportunity to act
And make this new love last.

Not in the power of some other being
Or a quirky chance of fate,
You can make this love work,
Assuming you’re not too late.

The power is yours, to make decisions
That impact your very own future,
Go or stay, love or leave,
Keep her love, or lose her.

So, what is it that is really?
Rocking your personal world?
Is this woman who loves you
Not your kind of girl?

Do you not have feelings for her?
Or find her not attractive?
Is there something in her nature
That you find too distractive?

So, take your time, make your choices
Then please, do have your say.
And so will she, have choices, that is.
Deciding to wait forever, or go away.