STRONG AS STEEL

STRONG AS STEEL

By Robin Shwedo

© Robin Shwedo, 1998



Strong as steel, I was,

because I got tired

of being brittle enough to break,

shattering

like an icicle,

dripping tears.

Life shapes up,

as do people around us.

We choose how to react;

after enough rough times

to last two lifetimes,

I became strong as steel

and more.

Thankfully,

steel doesn’t feel;

you can’t hurt

a two-edge sword.

But –

one day,

someone with more love

than anyone I knew

quietly,

lovingly,

patiently

waited quietly

while I noisily,

kicking and screaming,

then easily

let down my guard.

Finding the Achilles tendon of my heart,

he kissed the pain away.

Stronger than steel, I am.

Love changed me that way.

This is part of a book titled Working Class Poems which will soon be looking for a publisher.