Tenderness Poem by Barry Middleton

there is a need for tenderness
as primal as lust
essential as trust
but fear and mortality deny us

we set a fire before the cave
to banish night
to block the beast
deceived to know it dwells within

but tender sleep is well deserved
your body warm
the cave a womb
the comfort of the only heaven

essential man was given this
a test of will
against the chill
the soul of nurture or despair

the fire is dim consumed in ash
the moon is full
and dawn will come
the judgment is the human heart