A Poem for Rose

A poet's explanation in verse why he initially rejected her free offer of friendship.

To the query, “What is a friend?’’ his response was, ''A single soul dwelling in two bodies.''

--Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) Greek philosopher.

I play it safe; I run and hide

to let her never come inside.

My feeling of regret is strong:

it hurts to think, What if I’m wrong?

To be someone’s marbled statue

(lauded from afar by one new)

masks me, yet protects her ideal:

which is greater than what is real.

To stay spotless in her mind’s eye

an untruth, a single, white lie

was told--that I fell. But, forsooth,

to trust in another was the truth!

That truth--the fear of being laid

bare once more (to a dewy maid)--

disquiets me: for I’m in dread  

to let her in--to trust instead.