Ionic irony

Sometimes we go to extraordinary lengths
to keep ourselves feeling safe,
insulated from the challenges
of living and loving.

We long to hide ourselves away
in thoughts of past glory
or dreams of future promise;
construct elaborate plans and fantasies
and choose to live inside
their ionic/ironic columns
as a child hides behind fanned fingers,
thinking,
if I can't see them,
they can't see -- or worse yet, touch --
me.


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