A Couple of Grams of Heart

A COUPLE OF GRAMS OF HEART

Step right up,
See the man, the man with a heart,
weighs no more than an ounce or two.
Broken in all the wrong places,
but there are no right places to be broken, apart.
Watch him dance, try him at cards
see if he is not just as much man as you -

with only a couple of grams of heart.

Love has torn him apart
this man with so little heart,
ripped him a-shred and asunder.
He knew right from the start
if he'd just acted his part
the part where he gave up all
the truth in his heart -

there would be lightning to pay for the thunder.

He'd be brave if he could,
put on a big show, a show to end them all.
But he just does not have enough in his shirt
to stand up in spite of the fear and the hurt,
and dare to look out over the wall,
to risk the question that makes him so small -

will you love me, just as I am, after all?

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Shared with DVerse Poets for Open Link Night Nov '22

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This poem appeared in "Breathing for Clouds" available from Big Table Publishing.

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©2009 Christopher Reilley

 
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