paranoia

they’ve been together for ten years

and he hasn’t taken a knee

they’re both consumed with their fears

scared of something no one can see

she almost reaches for his hand

but something makes her change her mind

this, a delay no one could have planned,

at some point, gets all humankind

they’ve been burned before

they’ve had to learn before

they’ve been hurt before

they’ve lost the war before

paranoia, the mother of demise

skilled avoidance, from some kind of surprise

paranoia, it keeps them from the prize

anxiety, you can see it in their eyes

it’s true that they’re in love

that’s not always enough

yes, they’ve both been loyal

still there’s inner turmoil

paranoia, the mother of demise

the dark gray clouds, threatening their blue skies

paranoia, it keeps them from the prize

innocent words, they’re mistaken for lies

“it’s written in the stars,” they say

they know it to be true, somehow

“if they’ve made it this far,” they say,

“what is there to hold them back now?”

but when they ask him about her,

he gets quiet and looks away

he knows how he feels about her,

but wonders if she feels the same

he’s been burned before

he’d had to learn before

he’s been hurt before

he’s lost the war before

“did you get married yet?” they joke

they don’t know what it’s really like

keeping her words in, she might choke

she doesn’t know he thinks alike

she keeps a secret: the poem

she put all her feelings in

she knows she wrote it just for him,

but is scared of places she’s been

she’s been burned before

she’s had to learn before

she’s been hurt before

she’s lost the war before

paranoia, the mother of demise