If I long for strength-what's it to you?
Don't fight me-I will run from you.
Don't hold me-I will run from you.
I am who I am and I'm stubborn.
I hold to my walls and my shields.
Too cold, you say? Too inauthentic?
I'd like to see you step in my shoes.
Take it like a man: weapons ready.
Take me as I am (God, I'm helpless).
Watch the warmest fire freezing over.
I won't go down today, now or ever.
If I must hide, what's it to you?
If this is me, then take it or leave it.
Who knows why I fight till I'm bleeding?
Have you heart enough to see me defeated?
You won't be the one to unmask me.
Is this a challenge? Take it like it is.
If it's not-then I'm back behind walls.
If I'm strong I don't need your protection.
No protection-do I need to be fought?
Do I need to be fought or be held?
I fight so my heart's not beheld.
If you see it, I'm done for: defenseless.
To lay down my guard is my terror.
I have my pride, walls, shields, and weapons.
I stand fully armed in the shadow.
A beam of light bursts, filters through:
If I long for strength-what's it to you?
postscript
It makes me shudder to submit something into the free verse category. It's actually blank verse--why are the two lumped together? Blank takes more skill to write than free. In any case, here's a bit more vulnerability. I know you were all just hoping for some of that.