Always surprised

To catch myself defending

The heart I was so sure

Had finished mending

Thrown off-guard

By unintentional eavesdropping

off-hand comments

And unremarkable likenesses

From numb

To overcome

Last summer

Came in waves

Of dumb

And wisdom

Sorrow wrapped in smiles

And grins awash in tears

But time pushed on

And it was all but forgotten

New love has bloomed

And its roots have broken through

Resistant ground

That called it doomed

But here I stumble

Over words

And occasionally crumble

At the memories

Afraid the disillusioned

Drawing back of curtains

Will again unstitch

The haphazardly mended

Heart