DISCOVERY

In a locked-up corner of her heart
lives a secret part of her
untouched
burning brightly
unreachable?

In shards of ice
it's forever encased
too sharp to touch
too hard to break

Harsh words and haughty disdain
disguise her hurt conceal her pain
Shaky laughter hides her tears
hesitant smiles mask her fears

She's lost herself
it's too great a price
scattered sparks
sizzle on ice

What happened to freedom
to express without criticism
to love without fear

Her inner struggle is eternal
the ice tempered by hurt
thick, engulfing
the flames forbidden to be
hot, consuming

never quite reaching
never quite touching
blinded by the need for expression
refusing to recognize
when the heat is most intense
it feels like ice

The reality is an illusion
the ice, the flame
they're one and the same

The two unite
in a glorious moment of self discovery
to become the burning essence
of being

© 1997 Wendi Buckley