Love Unmasked

Love, you took me in so quickly;

surrounding my fragile ego

with all your princely charms.

Love you lifted me so high,

let me go so low, when all the time

your feet were made of clay.

Perhaps I shored up your fragile ego

and began to soften the waste of unshed passions.

of an impossible, derelict mind!

So low, so high, we seem to stagger,

would that I be your lackey,

your beggar;

You, oh mighty one,

asking so little and yet

demanding so much;

It's a paradox you see, of you, of me.

Dreamers, lying to the end

that this would be impaled upon by stars shining

and seas roaring;

Hand in hand, I had in mind,

but you, beloved one,

were too unkind;

You towered over me,

like a giant oak tree,

and enticed me towards the

height of thee;

Proclaim your wasteful,

useless self to be,

not for me, but always,

always, unto thee;

That is where I see your now,

treachery uncovered,

head bowed, no feet

of clay, no towering oak;

Just mere man, once more provoked.

B.J. McCall

3/25/'93