The wall we made

The first brick was laid early on
to project a base for those
to come. And come they did -
one after another in rows
stretching across our hearts;
becoming a barrier
against our love.

Some I added onto yours,
shoring up a barricade
of fear and hesitation;
creating places to hide
the substance of who we were.
The wall grew taller and deeper
and wider - with fewer chinks
for us to whisper through.

Finally, the day arrived
when the last brick
was shoved into place.
I pushed and you pulled;
wrestling together.
We were quite the team -
you and I - when it came
to building a wall.


© 2004 Melissa Songer