MY FORTRESS

MY FORTRESS

I know you have been deeply hurt 

By another, long ago........

You're afraid to get involved

But there's something you should know

I too.....lived within a fortress

With my heart guarded deep inside

No-one could get past my walls

Or even guess how much I cried 

 

But my fortress was no palace

It was cold and made of stone

More like........a mausoleum

My heart was dying all alone

 

I was slowly suffocating

While hiding from years of pain

It took months of soul searching

To free my heart to love again

 

I could wallow in self pity

Stay angry.......so bitterly

Then my heart would surely die

And I would lose me....totally

 

Sifting through years of rubble

I have deliberately chose

To release all bitterness....

As insight 'n compassion grows

 

 

Now, I see life as a lesson

I learn each and every day

A new appreciation......

Of others' feelings 'n dismay

 

You see, I really understand

Your hesitation and fear.....

It was not me who hurt you

Please let me help you heal, my dear



(c)Ellen Hammond

Reviews

[Marie Anzalone]

Do we become closed because of pain... or more open to receive the gift that others bring into life because of our renewed love and understanding? Do we shrink or grow? Ultimately, it is our choice, isn't it? I know which is harder... and I know which most people choose. There have been times I thought I would never laugh again. You always do, though, you always do... and the courageous hearts laugh the most sweetly.

[PoetryNmotion]

you are one gifted and talented Lady, who have not felt the place your writing from. keep them coming I love reading your heartfelt material.

[Freder Fredersen (aka G..]

Wonderful honest piece. I was moved by it. So much famiarity with the expressed emotions and sentiments. And it's crafted with prowess and grace. Very well done.

Cheers!
GM

[Gheeneil]

To love is to open your heart to someone. Vulnerability comes with it. But, it's worth the price. Nice one.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Awe that is touching and profound... to live with out love you might as well be six feet under... the leap of faith is risky but can bring such wonderful reward... really a beautiful write.

[Anita B Jacques]

Yes, so right you are, if a person stew over and over bad and sad memory, it becomes a habit and start forgetting and bury the good memories with all the misery and old hurts from long ago. We have to force ourselves to let go, it's over, time to close the book. Thank you my friend for sharing with us. God Bless you.

[Mark]

Again my dear friend you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Those blocks we so carefully arrange, ostensibly for our protection, eventually become a prison. It is regrettable, but the human predicament involves risk, and the pain averted by avoiding risk is revisited upon us many fold
in the form of bitterness and loneliness. Better, we realize too late, to accept the lesser pain now (and NOW...and NOW...and NOW), than to carry the vastly greater burden far longer!

[Pratibha]

i sincerely wish people realise this and empathise with all honesty to their fellow human beings....
My Mom says, "if u unintentionallly also bring a tear in someone's soul, God is watching and you will have to pay for it."
that really means that we should always think before we talk and act.....
what a wonderful poem

[Katherine Wyatt]

This is really fantastic and not only is the flow beautiful.. but the lesson profound and of great Truth!