The Story Of A Relationship (A Suite Of 6 Short Poems) Poem by Diana van den Berg

This is a suite of 6 short poems to the same person as 'My Parting Gift', but was written about 1988!

THE STORY OF A RELATIONSHIP

OFFER

If I could ease the muscles
of your heart,
If you would need me
in the nucleus of your soul,
If you would trust me
with your innermost self,
I would not hurt you
for all the world.

I would tread softly
on the pathway of your thoughts,
cushion your feelings
with reverence,
teach you not to fear
what lies beyond the sunset,
and leave you room to be yourself.

Each day would bring
the joy
of meeting
no more of you
than
you wished
to present.

But,
as these ifs can never be,
and all the woulds already are,
I offer you,
as always,
and with my blessing,
however much of me - or little - you ask,
and the unconditional freedom
you desire.

WELCOME

I could let you into the darkest silence of my night,
where solitude is peace
and not lose my tranquillity.

TRUST AND PROPHECY

The reason I am free
to give you my all,
unconditionally,
is that your gentle soul will
not
do me
any harm.

I cannot be your doormat
because you will not
wipe your feet on me.

Your rejection,
when it comes,
will be a gift
from you to me,
because you will put
what heart and soul you have,
into doing it
with the least hurt you can.

YOUR FREEDOM

The very integrity of my love for you
is what prevents it from being a threat.

PROJECTION

This evening has given me
a hazy vision into distant years
where you meet me
in a western sunrise.

MY DISCOVERY AND FREEDOM

How strangely warm
is the morning sun
on the truth
that you will
never change.

How painless
is acceptance
in the misty afternoon
of my rainwet, wooded
haven,
which you have never seen
and would not understand.

How absent
is the unreciprocated love
I once felt for you.
Only an intangible sadness
lightly bruises my evening
when I remember
you have lost
the chance to discover
a world
beyond your ken.

***