Wrap safety and caution around you, for
Girls and women may intertwine
Your fingers, easy as those vibrant strings.
Do you play their heart’s harp, sublime?

Maybe they skillfully tickle YOUR
Keys? Who’s playing who? Do you pine
For their adoration, you who skillfully sings
To them these words, “you will be mine?”

Or do the girls know better, knowing the lore
Of past confusion, spoken on the grapevine,
Rumour’s questions of love and lust?
Or do they respect you, man by design?

Written 1/14/04
© 2004 Nicole Nicholson. All Rights Reserved.