Threshold

Her heart was on her sleeve
Like a neon sign
Flashing "Vacancy"
She had room to love
Room to care
A predisposition to vulnerability
His heart was tucked
Securely in his breast pocket
Wrapped with a handkerchief
He was afraid to open it
And held it close
Not willing to be less than cautious
She? She liked to test the water,
Not with a finger dipped in to gauge
Too hot or too cold
But with a cannon ball
Full immersion
Risk taken
He couldn't swim
So he kept himself safe from the edge
Close, but never deep
Watching the waves
Nothing ventured
Nothing gained
Her heart sings and longs to hear
A a splash as he joins her
Or melody sung from the shore in return
His heart is choked and silent
Disappointment has a hand
Suffocating his words
Paralyzing, immobilizing
So His eyes burn, they seem to plead
"Read me!"
Seeking to give a sign
Of depth beneath the silence
Time, he thought, in time
A sound might escape these lips
If only she would wait...
She doesn't waste time
Or watch clocks tick
She knows that clocks stop
And hearts don't just break
Sometimes their beating ends
And so
Her heart is on her sleeve
Like a neon sign
Flashing vacancy
Predisposed to vulnerability
A tear is on her cheek
And warmth is in her arms, in her hopes
He stands on the threshold
Mute
"Fear is a damnable thing," she says
The light is on
The door is open
But it is getting late
Pesky doubts just like
 Mosquitoes and bats
Are drawn to the light
Of a door left cracked
Her heart was on her sleeve
Like a neon sign
Flashing vacancy
Predisposed to vulnerability

He took a step ...