The Fear Of Beauty Poem by Denis Martindale

It happened just the other day,
A High Street store not far away...
For there she was, so sweet of face,
While I stood staring with a gaze...

There was no doubt within my mind
That she was noble, pure and kind...
And all at once, would I propose
Without a ring, without a rose...

Yet fear consumed my heart within,
As true love stirred, would not give in...
It beckoned me beyond my fear,
For now's the time, while she stands near...

She served a customer at hand,
While I stood in love's wonderland,
With pining, yearning, dreaming dreams,
Already thinking, planning schemes...

Yet while approaching, hopeful still,
My stomach churned and I felt ill...
What words could I relay to her?
My head was spinning, in a whir...

No words were said to that sweet maid,
I left her feeling quite afraid...
I trembled like a tragic fool!
My heart was hot, my head was cool...

I found some peace at home alone...
A better man her love would own...
A richer, stronger, wiser man...
And not like me, who ran and ran...


Denis Martindale, copyright August 2010.