the bachelor's ballad

I stayed with her  
because she said she loved me  
and because I believed her  
then I left her for the same reason  
when her unanswered 'I-love-you's  
began to weigh heavy on us both  
her wondering what was wrong with us  
and me asking the same  
only  
of myself  
 
she still has me close  
I know it  
though it’s fading  
because women are practical people  
and warm needs warm  
 
so I don’t call her  
and try not to visit  
when I’m home  
from working away  
‘cos it feels unfair  
to keep walking back in her door  
selfish really  
filling my needs  
that way;  
using her gifts  
to feed  
my greedy ground  
 
still  
all poetry aside  
I miss her so bad  
that I’m afraid  
if she ever says it again  
I’ll have the right answer  
and lose everything  
I’ve burned  
to be free  
 
 
if you want to  
you can call me coward  
to my face  
 
'cos that's love  
I understand