I Met a Man

The worst thing I did to you was love you

I see at the center of you is fear-

and though I did my best

to show you love, comfort, safety

I feel I must have hurt you-

I must have said some

Untender Thing

for you to turn on me

a colder shoulder

than the eyes you afford to everyone else.

I have yet to see you

look into my face,

and sigh regret.

Though, I'm sure your pillows sag

with the weight of all your

Whispered Contritions.

Even if you do not know the words

your dreams surely do. 

Possibly, I think too much

of what I meant to you

but I knew you once,

                   briefly,

I felt the tremors of a beating heart

wrapped up tight in the grip

of your fist.

I can't imagine you would come at me

with such violence

in retribution for my naiveté,

                    and love

if you had not cared for me at all. 

I guess I got too close. 

And when you caught wind

of my scent in your bed

you had only the teeth of your words

with which to rend me from 

                    your sleep. 

I hope it's peaceful now.