Love Dancing on Glass

Our eyes first met on a dance floor.
You are smooth blue, a soft laugh,
a lover of life, safe waters to swim.
I am a storm with white caps.

A squall moves within me,
thrashes against walls.
If you care, hold out strong arms
to cushion our agonizing falls.

Noble Sir: a lady
with delightful dreams,
that cradles a heart,
once filled by personal schemes.

Look closely, I am stone cold.
Words are lost, patience required to seek.
Those men who dare to touch me,
l leave broken, confused, weak.

You must want a challenge.
Be a man of many faces.
Have a quest in mind, gentle lover,
my heart will raise after this race.

The penance of caring for me,
is often a deep sea of turmoil.
I take you into smooth rivers,
then swirl rapidly over a dam.

I am not sure what I need.
My heart can not learn love from lust.
Bruised, broken, tattered and torn,
fighting blindly is a reflex I trust.

Should you take a chance?
I have burned bridges, rejected fate.
I am a child torn from anger,
no place left for gentle faith.

Tenderness is a slow dance.
I hunger for baby steps.
Perhaps I could learn to waltz,
if no one steps on my toes.


By Kathie Stehr
edited Feb. 11, 2012

For my husband, Kurt, whose blue eyes taught me tenderness.