I used to melt so easily-
The touch of a hand,
the whisper of sweet nothings.
I had a constant yearning
for the warmth of another.

I was stuck in a hollow
gelatinous state,
Ready to mold myself into
any desired shape.

But now, my exterior
has become much harder,
layers of stone
to protect an interior that's softer.

Now requiring others
to do a lot more forging
and convincing myself
to do a lot less morphing.

Finding love
where only lust resides
is like
stopping the moon's pull
on the oceans' tides.

The best way for me
to describe
the demise
of our marriage
is an out-of-body experience.
I watched helplessly
as it all fell apart.

The strokes of your tongue
could rival those
of a Picasso painting.

I've found it easier this way-
to **** things up before they even begin.
resisting vulnerability.
avoiding the ruse of misleading men.

Women are relentless creatures--
using the same stones thrown to
break them down
to rebuild an even stronger existence.

here we are
tangled up in these sheets-
a battle of radiance
will surely ensue
between this smile on my face
and the light of the moon