The heart twinge is all too familiar,
too comforting
and too reminiscent of past failures.
Best to stamp on the budding flower
lest we learn to draw
poison
from the seeds

Or forget the lessons life already taught us,
most untimely and most impractical.
I fell ill
at the feet of an idiot
and wouldn't repeat it—
no matter if the next man
is kinder than the last.

Even if his eyes were azure blue,
or should he like mine for their icy greyness.
Those are just tricks, and I have learnt.
I am a smart girl with
time on my side.