She is me

Shy eye 

but it does not conceal

what she would have revealed

a sigh

released under her breath

is just the sign of inner death

and slowly she walks

and slowly she speaks

and lonely she is

she is me

across the room,

her heart trips over

a stepping stone

she looks up in hopes

that I did not hear

sorry, I thought,

it wasn't my right

I won't do it again

and slowly she walks

and slowly she speaks

and lonely she is

she is me

across the room,

a teardrop falls

and she looks up in hopes

that I did not see

sorry, I thought,

I'll look away next time

her soul is fluttering between 

two places

between laughter, smiles, familiar faces

and the deep dark tunnels 

where there are only traces

of lost memories and tears

and slowly she walks

and slowly she speaks

and lonely she is

she is me

painfully, I set out to tear down the wall

I stand up and walk through

the barrier between us

she's surprised

not angry

not scared

not annoyed

but surprised

I smile at her and think,

she is me

I must tear down walls

within me

how strange it is

and how familiar

and slowly she walks

and slowly she speaks

and lonely she is

she is me

shy eye

but it does not conceal

what she would have revealed

a sigh

released under her breath

is just the sign of inner death

as I confront her,

she is relieved 

she sees what I have seen

a wall broken down

confidence built up

she had been lost,

confused

now she's been found by herself -

by me

and slowly she walks

and slowly she speaks

and lonely she is

she is me

- Jan. 17, 1984