Joel Hawksley Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

"Fortress of the Heart" was written in 2006, when I was observing how many people, myself included, build emotional walls to protect themselves from vulnerability and potential hurt. The poem explores the idea of those guarded hearts, the hidden yearnings they contain, and the courage it takes to break down those barriers.

I was inspired by the subtle cues we often give when we're holding back, the unspoken language of longing and fear that lies beneath the surface. The poem gently encourages us to embrace vulnerability, trust in genuine connection, and recognize that true strength lies in opening our hearts, not keeping them locked away.

It reminds us that we all carry our own burdens and that offering a safe space for others to share their truths can create profound and lasting bonds. I hope this poem resonates with anyone who has felt the weight of a guarded heart and inspires them to take a chance on vulnerability and trust.

Listen to poem:

Fortress of the Heart

A guarded heart, a fortress built so high,  
Behind the walls, a hidden tearful sigh.  
I see the shadow, the yearning in your eyes,  
A truth unspoken, a silent, sweet disguise. 

The words you choose, a carefully veiled script,  
A smile that falters, a playful, teasing flip.  
You jest and laugh, a mask to hide the ache,  
The unspoken longing, the words you cannot break. 

But whispers dance, on breezes soft and low,  
A yearning melody, a story yet to flow.  
I sense the weight, the burden that you bear,  
The dreams unspoken, the fears you cannot share. 

Don't be afraid, to let the barriers fall,  
For hearts unguarded, are the strongest after all.  
Let vulnerability be your guiding light,  
And share your truth, beneath the moonlit night. 

A listening ear, a hand outstretched in trust,  
A safe embrace, where shadows turn to dust.  
I know you're holding back, a treasure yet unseen,  
But open up your heart, and let the love convene. 

For in that space, where walls begin to bend,  
A deeper connection, a friendship that will mend.  
So trust the journey, and take a chance to see,  
The beauty that is there, when finally you're set free.

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