A Fragile Glass Heart

I'm beginning to notice a repetitive theme in my writing. I apologize. Though I believe that speaks more about me than anything...

A Fragile Glass heart

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

Love is a gift we often break

Purposefully, or by mistake

Our intentions are often clouded

Is this the one, or am I broken hearted

Should I settle for something less

or am I deserving of the best

Is this something just to get me by

A shoulder needed when I cry

But intentions often vacillate 

Between moods of doubt we propagate 

The line of romance we blur

When selfishness and envy occur 

So fragile, yet strong the heart may be

When it yearns for love and company 

But know as true as your own

A restless heart is always alone 

Author's Note

"You love me." My muse Cate said with a tinge of self assured arrogance. "What do you mean? I've never even said that word to you." I replied defiant, yet perturbed. "I can tell. It's written all over your face." She said in breathy voice akin to a film starlet back in the 40s. "Lies..." I countered as I ran to the bathroom to see for myself. And what I saw was one confused looking old man staring back in the mirror at me. Nothing defines love more than that look. Feel free to comment, troll, or leave best wishes. But...keep love out of it. Insincerely, CLE

Reviews

[Stella Armour]

A lonely heart often will lend itself to false love . 'tis better to be lonely than the hurt of what that will bring.
Life has a way of compensating , you just have to believe in yourself first..

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Stella for your thoughts on this poem. I am a firm believer in the old adage that one can not truly love another until they have learned to love themselves first. It is difficult to do but a necessary requirement in order to know love itself. This was a bit of playful writing in a large and often difficult subject to interpret. Because that is the mystery of love. We don't so much learn it but interpret it as a way to live with it. And we may not always see the signs of its resonance and relevance, but eventually we will fall into it. Thank you kindly again.

[Ranger Kessel]

You wrote a very nice poem here and I enjoyed it.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for your kind comment I really appreciate it.

[Cherrie]

I love this makes me think about little children . They love from an endless reserve.
If we're not careful a transition occurs
as we age and from a cupboard of lack people forget love cannot be contained. . Once the seed is watered it spreads and grows and there is always enough to go around.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Children are the innocent versions of love. The purity and unconditional aspects of that emotion. They have yet to be blinded and corrupted by hate. I wish we could all love like them. Or continue to as we age. But life shapes our hearts and toughens us. Not always in a good way. The trick is to find an acceptable balance. And to recognize we can only control the love we give and never the love we receive. So love wisely and prudently. Thank you Cherrie for your comment on this poem.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Beautiful poem
Coming from an older woman as me we only love as much as we love ourselves
Going by experience here if we hate ourselves we hate the world and get far too clingy and dependant if we feel love or attraction but
If we learn to love ourselves warts and all we love more and can let go if it fails as we still have ourselves left
Stupid maybe but it’s taken me years
I did love your poem
Love does make the world go round or flat lol

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

As the writer I feel your words are poetic unto themselves and better illustrate the meaning behind this work. We can not truly love someone until we first come to love ourselves. Warts and all. Because in loving our own imperfections we come to see past those same frailties in others to see the real them. And to truly love them for who they are. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me Julie. A very illuminating conversation on the virtue of love.

[Sami Khalil]

Here is a weird analogy to this wonderful and heartfelt poem.
Love is like a two-wheeled motorcycle with the lover holding the reins and the beloved hugging him for safety, both needing that balance. The faster it goes, the more likely the crash; the slower it goes, the more likely the enjoyment of the free road. Both are destined feel the power of the wind on their faces(provided no helmet is required). Ha...
You are a marvelous writer. I admire you style and honesty.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you, my friend, for the kind and encouraging comment. Love is always a difficult subject to broach, even for a middle aged man like myself. I am still in the growing process as far as love is concerned. And I feel even on my deathbed I will still remain so. Always an amateur to the ways of love. Yet. I feel that is a good thing. For love is a process of continual evolution and a beguiling force of empathetic emotional yearning. Thank you again Sami. Both for your words and friendship.

[Sami Khalil]

Your life. Your journey. Your choice. We are all novices in many ways. We all try to embrace and comprehend. You are welcome my good o'le friend.

[Webster]

Wow! Just wow. I associate with so much of this. Such a beautiful work of art. I love the way you put your words forth. In such an upfront yet elegant manner.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Webster for your comment on this poem. I am so appreciative of your kind review of this piece. We as writers often hope that our art can find resonance with the reader some how, and in doing so find a place in their heart. Most of my work comes from my own personal experience and perspective of a long life lived so far. Even as an old man I still have much to learn about this emotion called Love. And the profound impact it has had in my life. Both good and bad. Thank you kindly again my friend for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem.

[Ioana Mihai]

Beautiful poem… heart can become the lightest and joyful, yet the heaviest torment there can be in the universe…

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly Ioana for your comment on this poem. I have such a complicated relationship on the understanding of Love. I am in my mid 50's and know less about the emotion than I did when I was younger. I feel I'm a romantic pessimist. I aspire to love's great virtuous attributes and yet I'm cautious they truly exist. Love is like a Rollercoaster where you are given limited tickets to take the ride, if you are daring enough to that is. You make the ride much easier on yourself though if you first learn to love yourself. In some ways I feel most of my "love" poetry comes with that hidden message. Something I myself still struggle to achieve. Thank you so much again for sharing your thoughts with me. I truly appreciate it.

[Ioana Mihai]

Thank you for the lovely words, you are right, self love is something that me and maybe many more still need to work on. The fear to love or the courage to love too soon but not the right person, are both a failure to live the dreamed love we wish… life’s challenges, we can only learn and love in many ways every day,to ourselves, our loved ones, friends, the ones that need some love, the lonely and the vulnerable ( all love kinds except the Eros)…. Giving love is always beautiful

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Carlos... it is amazing what many Artist sand Poets
have suffered through. It is important to know what our Contemporaries have endured. I have enjoyed reading your "Work" ... be blessed. gently, Pat

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Pat for the supportive words, as a fan of your art as well I truly appreciate it.

[Fran Marie]

love is complicated; when
it comes to matters of the
heart we can become and
sometimes confused. we may
expect too much in fulfillment
of dreams coming true
Enjoyed read I n g

Nice work

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Fran for your comment on this poem. For me love really is a difficult subject because even at my mid fifties I still have much to learn about this emotional virtue. But as is often the case it is not about the destination, but the journey of Love. I find comfort in that thought. Thank you again for sharing your insight.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

that line is so blurred now I don't think we understand that love is giving...without expecting in return.

Selfish does not a lover make...but a restless heart forever searching.
j.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I totally agree with you J. At one point I seriously contemplated whether to call this piece "Great Expectations" in a more pessimistic satirical view. We often have such high and unattainable goals when it comes to the idea of love. Especially, during relationships we have in our lives. We forget that a requisite of this emotion requires balance on both sides. One is not always going to get everything that they desire. Sacrifice is indeed a rule for sustainable relationships built on the foundations of love. No one ever truly walks into the sunset hand in hand forever aglow like movies and stories portray. It may start out idealistic but reality tends to set in quickly. But I often caution my commentary for I readily admit I'm no expert on the cause of love. Just a victim and poet hehe. Thank you again my friend for sharing your thoughts.