I have become adept at turning it off
And shutting down all the sound.
I have become quite confident
In my capacity to not let love be found.
I have allowed my heart to stay in a state
Of self preservation for so long,
That melting the ice that now surrounds it
Could take far too long.

I hold on to this freezing core,
Like a bear to the frozen ice caps.
It keeps me afloat,
And lets me know,
That my heart belongs to no other.

And though I shiver
In this cold
Of self-preservation.

It’s so much better
Then all the heat
That comes from your love and admiration.
-ALC February 11, 2017