Overpowered: I’m All Alone… (Second Version) Poem by Louise Tredoux

Overpowered, acted with so little restraint;
the old me changed into a wanton creature;
abandoned my principles; feeling invincible
when being kissed – then succumbing to fear –
where did I lose myself; taught never to do
what is forbidden by religious morality; the
feeling of fear – an indictment of guilt?

The ice-cold fear evoked by unwonted freedom,
the scalding-hot fear of abandonment, I had
vowed never to be bereft by the loss of a
loved one, never to love so much that death
would scare me; yet today I have fallen in
love - the thought of loss is unbearable;
can’t contemplate my fate should I lose him

I have succumbed to love as I vowed I would
not, I cannot turn back the clock, how could
I ever surrender to the risk of love and loss?
What if he became unfaithful or died? I am
scared; should I run away and cry until I
pass out; there’s no-one to turn to; I’m
all alone...