An original poem on the human condition by Alan Walsh.

1. We Think We Know Them
An Original Poem on the Human Condition by Alan Walsh
Dedicated to my bride and best friend–“Judy Blue Eyes”.
On they come through each new day
We judge, sort, and file away
Their fears & hopeswe seldom see
Too caught up in our own dark seas
Their troubles we don’t need.
Loud folk fear the dawn of day
Quiets dream of better days
Tenderpsyches hide theirpain
Lovers fear of parting ways
And untouched we remain.
Predators despoil our lives
Prey upon us with their lies
Once they’ve gone,in all our pain
We swear we’ll never trust again
No inner spark remains.
Friendships start, then drift apart
We tell ourselves that we’re so smart
To wrap our hearts in hardened shells
We think we’re doing well.
We wed and all is bliss until
Our imperfections start to spill
By endless pin-pricks do we bleed
Pride becomes our hardened creed
We snap like broken reeds.
Complexity’s the staff of life
Yet humans like things neat & tight
Walls come up, defenses grow
People met we seldom know
We blithely let them go.
First impressions drive our thoughts
Subtlety is largely lost
We simplify at heavy cost
And chances gained are lost.
But have some faith, despite yourself
Take your scarred heart off the shelf
Remove it from its iron sheathe
Dust it off and let it breathe
Because you now have me.