Chapter 4

Love’s Acceptance

Love’s Acceptance:

Opening Heart

This old heart to dreadful spill

carrying injuries to this day still

where learned that the one most loved

and cast heart out, this early love

told him clear she’d never loved

Her troubling words to cut deep

bleeding heart, he could not weep

yet for all this hurt, he stayed

maybe he was deeply afraid

that he would never make the grade

For another’s heart

From months of conversations scored

he began to see there something more

than maybe – he could not be sure

this one’s heart was true and pure

beginning, him then wanting more

Slowly opening locked heart door

Seeing the Image

Different from the images sent before

his visage seemed to be seeking more

Quietly and desperately unsure

in this moment he could explore

The idea, the notion, of love and more

seems more willing than ever before

And I to note this subtle change

Curtains lifting from close range

To allow possibility once again

yet he seems ever quite restrained

But reaching slowly once again

tentative, surely, now interested again

His curiosity there to show

I to wonder where this could go

Happy I am his image seeing

chance for a greater future being

Hard to Believe

Looking into the mirror at the man I see

it is hard, oh-so-hard, to believe

Here I am, an older man

gone through life the best I can

And I ask honest of me

within a question, answered needs to be

What is here that could engage

attention of a woman half my age?

Could not answer, began to rage

nothing to see, not on this page

Just an old man with smiling eyes

doing best, trying to get by

Oh yes, it is grand to have a listener

but not the best subject for her as young glistener

In her, much of worthy interest’s spend

wish I were young, we know what end

But now, as age creeps in

I see little good, less of win

And though I speak to her kindly

I still have no idea what she to find in me

These the thoughts that I’ve applied

as hiding from affections I fear to abide

As she pursues, and I retreat

realizing soon will come my defeat

And her to take the winner stand

become part of my life, take my hand

Wavering

One moment, one day, this way or that

I am to wonder just where I’m at

Where it comes to love

One day my heart dares to sing with possibility

the next fearful, with nothing resembling certainty

As to the truth, the likelihood my love for her real

One day it is clear just how I feel

the next I cannot believe this real

As past lost loves crop-up to dissuade

And I only to imagine how her heart aligns

with her mind and goal, and keep trying

Her heart aching to find with me more

To persuade me, and my demons

that she is real, and has her reasons

Her effort strong, persistence long

Her desire to share her willing care

within her life, she need to share

Her, hopeful ever to succeed

With Courage

I see the interest in his eyes

all those things his words imply

but do not say, “I wonder why?

Try I must or pass on by

To seek another who may not be

the one I want, the one for me.”

and so, with courage, I will try

to reach his heart, or stand by, cry

The way he speaks, the way he looks

his penchant for words and writing books

the way his words calm my soul

these each make him my future goal

And there’s a place, if all goes well

for us to be one, foul or well

as with courage I reach out, ring a bell

his joyful emotions to bring to swell

A response to mine, which have come out

our talking a while has brought about

within my heart and mind

a future for us I hope to find

She Prays

And with her ideal man far away

she thinks it wise to kneel and pray

to God, that he would come, and stay

And for the first time in life

bring a happy day, his new wife

While he to wonder if it’s true

that she to love him, his past through

for all she had her history too

That had turned away many who

judging, harsh opinions through

Not accepting changes that were true

life experiences to make them blue

turn her away cold, harsh, came true

And here, with this new man

a change, a friend’s heart, forgiving can

And here a place for her heart to land

within him acceptance, no judgments, canned

to block opportunity come to hand

And still she prays, through early days

hoping, hopeful, as more she prays

Tomorrow has her hand in his

with them joined, a life to live

with joy and laughter there to give

Returning, Returning

Disbelieving, yet intrigued

neither heart nor mind assured

that what was said was true

Curious anyways, came back

day to day returning

for good company yearning

Yet ever the question stands

What interest has she in an older man,

double her age, double her span?”

And with calm words in conversation

to ease a friend’s mind with intention

assurances are given, a mitigation

Of the troubles she had seen

earlier times that were harsh or mean

her words not bringing hurt or blame

His words to her, her words to him

each bringing calm where none had been

as slowly, returning, and returning again

Each to feel an internal win

as success, unexpected that came on a whim

together more often, her and him

Sharing Moments

Her to listen as he speaks

into the change coming to life within

Him to find encouragement and joy

in the words she sends, amazed he is

And in those moments of shared converse

each life to move toward different course

Them walking idea’s road together more

and together their hearts begin to soar

Above the traces of the past

which in their hurt seem to ever-last

To harm those things which happened

then quickly pass, damaged

And within each, new light shows

on the emotion between them as it grows

Precious become the moments each

With their sharing, fair their reach

Decisions, Decisions

There he is, an older man

becoming close through talking’s end

in my mind I want him when

I need someone to hold my hand

My heart may have chosen

my mind not yet so

but either way, I hate him, NO!

Not at all, it is not so

His kind words in conversations

clearly show his life intentions

and I, seeing possibility in life

begin to think of self as wife

To such a man as he

Decisions, decisions that must be made

plans for goals must be laid

if love and comfort in life to upgrade

and have a future freshly made

Happy when

Happy at the thought

of chatting with her, he was

Happy when

her words showed upon his screen

Sad he was

that she was so very far away

Traveling time

that would take many-a-day

But happy still

it seemed a thrill, pleasing her words in say

Happier still

it seems a thrill when on screen words to spill

Expressing her happiness

to have him waiting on her words

And then,

happy when… happiest when promises made

And future set

with greater joy to come, is laid

An Expression

His frown has lifted, a changed expression

a smile now where none had been

and for her this was a major win

to bring his smile to life again

To have his words express some joy

words exchanged as if young boy

to tell of his liking for her

longed to hear, she has spoken with nerve

And finally the vale over his heart to lift

her words are through, to him a gift

as his words from across the sea

tells her he’s pleased, as if a rushing breeze

Him to give an expression

“Was it always your intention

to capture my heart, set a direction

toward love”*

Again Alive

A stir where none has been

a something new inside his skin

a change from old, how things have been

a heart that beats with life again

Where quiet and lonely were long the same

the very nature of love life game

not a stir had long since been

strange to feel curiosity again

All because her open eyes

chose a man withered but wise

enough to compliment a jewel

and her to send his heart to school

A reminder of what should have been

someone to hold, true a friend

with love to share and time to spend

in caring

Enjoying this chapter?

Sign in to leave a review and help Jacob Harvey Redloh & Véronique Margot improve their craft.