This House We Built

Responding to my private confession,

She whispered through tears,

“There exists no greater lie

Than for you to say that you love me.

You may feel your heart aching

Within a weaker moment,

But come the stronger light of day,

The world bearing upon your shoulders,

You will deny that you ever

Enfolded my hand in yours.

I know truth to be bolder than this,

Harder and more frustrating.

Its concealment is difficult and flawed;

You hide the flame beneath a basket

And it burns the whole damn house.

But this, this is an easy lie

You turn affection on like a switch,

Illuminating a dark room.

Once you find what you are seeking

You turn it off again.”

I spoke nothing more to her

And cast my eyes upon the ground

The house was already burned,

My clothes and hair smelled

Strongly of smoke and gasoline.

And still I remained a coward.

For the fire I had set burned all night,

But come morning was ashes and pitch.