Alive to Love

When years stretch away empty, your dreams start to die. Kicked often enough, you forget how to try. Things that used to be urgent don't matter so much. Friends drift away. Somehow you lose touch. Years quickly slip past and disillusioned I've grown. I looked up one day, to find myself all alone. At first, I told myself, I was glad to be free. No cares and no worries, no responsibilities. Then, I started to wonder, why everyone was gone. And if maybe, it was my fault, nobody stayed on. Then came the resentment. " Why'd they do this to me?" Frustration and loneliness, anger and self- pity. I swore not to let anybody, ever hurt me again. I blocked off my heart and let nobody in. With people all around, I was a hermit, in fact. In fear of being hurt, I shunned all contact. Then came that sweet someone, who shattered my wall. My carefully built barriers, I watched crumble and fall. Stubbornly, I struggled afraid I would win, yet desperately longing to let this love in. So forgive me, my darling, if I've been a bit slow, admitting I love you and telling you so. For so long I've been certain, caring brings only pain It's taken all my courage to try love again. Once more I'm alive for which I thank you sincerely. At last I can say, " I love you dearly!" I give you my heart, though the giving comes hard. Guard it carefully my love, for it's fragile and scarred.