Once Bitten, Twice Shy Poem by Ahmed Shibli

As the smile on her face appeared,
his eyes obliviously paused to stare.
Felt bold enough to face everything he feared.
There was already love in the air.

After all this while,
for the first time.
His heart was beating,
in a beautiful rhyme.

Reckless and naïve,
stories of love he weaved.
Too unique to be believed indeed,
the serene unseen he preconceived.

But he was led this way,
Astray
Possessed by love,
Just a prey.
The colours of love painted,
what was actually grey.
Soon he would learn from his mistakes
and verily pay.

In the ocean of love he was drowning,
so deep that she could see it.
And unfortunately,
all she managed was frowning.

Deaf, dumb and blind,
due to love, unconfined.
He was unaware of what,
she wanted him to realise.
Before he did something,
he would agonize.

He was fearless, as love had had him deceived.
In an eternal moment he revealed.
She wasn't surprised, but he was,
to find that love wasn't always kind,
rather diseased.

Then with sorrow he believed,
as the pain taught him,
one of the greatest lessons, indeed.

Its not necessary that you take,
two hearts for Love's sake.
For if their rhyme doesn't sync,
they might ache.
And the relentless beating.
Soon a heart breaks.

Once bitten, twice shy,
her thoughts often make him sigh.
But theres more to it
than what meets the eye.
As it was necessary for him
and in time to come,
he would be glorified
as a wise guy.