When love is offered like a sword or threat

When love is offered  loudly like a threat
When tact is missing from the offered words
It fills my heart with terror and with dread

We all  need boundaries on our estate
But to a stranger, they look bare and blurred
Then love is offered  loudly like a threat

Can we imagine, share a stranger’s bed
When all our fears of overwhelm are stirred?
That fills my heart with terror and with dread

Slow and caring is the way to meet
When humour  and true dignity are shared
Then love is offered  kindly to our sweet

Elusive is the path to the unsaid
A trip into the briars may leave us scared
The journey makes us stronger, eases dread

An unknown force within my soul has stirred
And to that mystery I am allured
When love is offered  slowly, it’s no threat
It takes away my  terror and my dread