That's Not Safe

They teach you to lock your doors,
to label everything fragile before it’s touched,
to flinch from heat, to never trust the flame—
as if safety were a kind of virtue.

But love asks for the opposite.
It hands you a blade and says,
Now offer them your throat.
It promises no armour. Only presence.

You step inside anyway, barefoot,
carrying nothing but your name,
knowing it could be dropped,
scratched, or spoken like a weapon.

And still, you stay—
not because it’s safe, but because it’s real.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Tsai Avatar
May 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I agree with Paige here, such a raw and beautiful write... Love is nothing but a gamble in which you put all on the table, praying that your partner will see and cherish the risk you take. Real love cuts, deeply, but perhaps we only feel human when there's pain. Such an inspirational poem!
O'Neil Avatar
May 29, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and heartfelt response. I truly appreciate your insight and ongoing support—it means a great deal to me. I’m glad the poem resonated with you and sparked such a meaningful reflection on love and its risks. Your words are truly inspiring.
Hind Avatar
May 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
A raw and beautiful write-
O'Neil Avatar
May 29, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your ongoing support—it means a lot to me.
Crandall Avatar
May 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Great poem! "Wise men say, only fools rush in, ..."
O'Neil Avatar
May 29, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Thank you so much. I’m really glad you enjoyed it—and you’re right, that Elvis line perfectly captures the meaning of the poem. Such timeless wisdom in those words.
Theraven Avatar
May 26, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Aaliyah, Certain truths we hold self-evident. And still, you stay... -R
O'Neil Avatar
May 29, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Thank you, Richard. Your words mean a great deal—both powerful and poetic. I'm honoured and deeply moved.
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