Would I, If I Could

Would I, if I could, remain distant
From the relentless desire around me
For love, or its counterfeit

I stand back, alone
And watch the pursuit of fleeting pleasure
That has no depth or meaning

Would I, if I could, pass no judgment
Of humans and their folly
Without remembering my own

I stand back, alone
Muffled by layers of clothing and resistance
Gagging at the thought of a lover's touch

Would I, if I could, remove the layers
And stand naked in the fray
To try, once more, this human game of tryst

Yet I stand back, alone
Knowing the risk is too great, too personal
My heart, like my aging skin, is no longer resilient

Would I, if I could, know for sure
If in the quiet of my aloofness
I've created a haven or a fortress