A Knight in Shining Armor

I once knew a six-foot-four blond handsome knight

 with a face that was lovely and fair,

And his hair in the sunlight would glisten like gold,

 and his eyes were a magical pair.

Just to stand by my knight would send rushes of chills

 when his flesh nearly brushed against mine

And how lucky I felt when we walked side by side

 while the others would gesture, 'how fine!'

But then somehow one day as I proudly walked with him

 I noticed his armor was stained.

His brightness was tarnished, his smile became wicked,

 his words appeared selfish and vein.

So, I hauled out the cleaner and scrubbed up his act

 but the soot seemed to gather and grow;

So, I hauled the the paint and I covered the mess

 but this garbage would simply not go.

Well, I lived with my knight and his armor and rust,

 and no matter how often I cared

to maintain his white covering from getting too black,

 not a minute of time would he spare

to observe his own armor, and therefore the ground upon

 which he would walk became soiled.

And so not to become just his maid or his servant,

 I threw in my rag and recoiled.

As I struggled to climb on my feet once again,

 and to gather the truths of my world;

As I clung to my word while my knight fought with vengeance

 for getting he ego unfurled.

I noticed beside me just waiting with patience,

 a man, and he drew me in near

to a place of enticement -- a place of excitement --

 a place of enjoyment, not fear.

Now my moments are sunshine, I frolic in stardust;

 this brightness is not from a knight,

I'm encircled in laughter, and warmed by a smile,

 and held close when the day turns to night.

And the more that I'm with him my world becomes brighter

 from something not visibily there.

You're my friend and my lover; I'm touched by your giving.

 You're  safe, and deliciously rare.

04/02/85