I hid from the word,
even as I could not hide from you
all too keen an eye
fixed firmly on me,
and told myself that if I did not say it,
it would not be true.
Love demands that once I know
that I am falling,
once I know that my name
is sweet to your mind,
that I not be selfish
that I not try and find a way
to tie you firmly to my heart.
Love demands that if I cannot give
what I know you need,
that I not flash fairy fire in your eyes,
to distract you from the true---
Love demands that i silence
the heart you made sing,
lest you reach for me
when i can never be enough
to fill the arms that ache to hold and be held,
when i can never fill the heart
i feel warm and real against mine.
Love demands that I be
more giving
more kind
more generous than I wish,
because I would have you for my own,
if only I could shut my ears
to all the things
that loves demands.
even as I could not hide from you
all too keen an eye
fixed firmly on me,
and told myself that if I did not say it,
it would not be true.
Love demands that once I know
that I am falling,
once I know that my name
is sweet to your mind,
that I not be selfish
that I not try and find a way
to tie you firmly to my heart.
Love demands that if I cannot give
what I know you need,
that I not flash fairy fire in your eyes,
to distract you from the true---
Love demands that i silence
the heart you made sing,
lest you reach for me
when i can never be enough
to fill the arms that ache to hold and be held,
when i can never fill the heart
i feel warm and real against mine.
Love demands that I be
more giving
more kind
more generous than I wish,
because I would have you for my own,
if only I could shut my ears
to all the things
that loves demands.


