I’ve learned to keep a safe distance, a guarded space
For when I let you in, you often leave a scarred place
Your words, a careless spark, that sets my soul on fire
Leaving me to wonder, why I let you get so close, so dire
The flame of friendship flickers, as insensitive words are spoken
A bond once strong, now broken, like a delicate heart unspun
The heat of hurt and anger, rises like a burning sea
And I’m left to navigate, the wreckage of you and me
I’ve built walls to protect myself, from the hurt you can impart
A shield to deflect the arrows, of your thoughtless heart
For when I let you in, I risk the pain of your unkind words
And though I yearn for connection, I’ll keep my distance, and my heart preserved
Yet, I’ll hold on to hope, that one day I’ll find a gentle soul
Who’ll speak words of kindness, and make my heart whole
Until then, I’ll keep my distance, and tend the flames of my heart
For in the fire of self-love, I’ll find the warmth that will never depart.