WHAT TENDERNESS IS THIS
THAT WOULD DARE TO ARTFULLY TWIST
ITSELF UNWELCOME, SAY I, TO MY DOOR
HAVE YOU COME TO UNDERMINE MY RESOLVE, WHAT FOR?
PARANOID, AS EVERY NOISE DEFTLY MAKES
THE VERY RAFTERS OF MY HOUSE TO SHAKE
AS I GUARD STEALTHILY EACH UNWELCOMED FEELING TONE
THEY WILL HAVE NO PLACE IN ME, NO NOT ONE!
SO, WHY COME THIS SLINKY, TENDER FEELING THUS
FROM SOME DELICIOUS, CHILDISH MEMORY FROM THE DUST
AND BREAK THROUGH THIS HARDENED ARMORED I
AND FLICK A DROPLET OF WATER FROM ME EYE?
BE GONE FROM ME, THE ROAR BURNS THE PAGE
AND REVEALS UNBIRTHED FEELINGS IN RAGE
AND LOOKS NARROWLY AND SUSPICIOUSLY AROUND
TO FIND ONE LINGERING PLACE TO BE FOUND
WHERE TENDERNESS FROM WITHIN AGAIN TAKES PLACE
AND REACHES HERE TO KISS MY FACE
AND WINDS ITSELF IN PLEASURE'S NOTE THROUGH ME
AND NOT THE PART THAT I NORMALLY SEE
YET, LIKE A DAM BROKEN LOOSE EACH FEELING RAN
AND FLOODED ALL AND WHAT I THINK I AM
I SOBBED AND CRYED AS FEELINGS BIRTHED AND DIED
AND REVEALED TO POET A TENDER SIDE
OH! HOW METICUOUSLY WELL IT DID HIDE!
SO, I PASSED THE AWFUL TEST
AND BIRTHED FROM ME MY VERY BEST
SHE LIES HERE IN MY ARMS EXPRESSED
WHAT POWER OF GOD BE TENDERNESS?
