Burning Heart

Just when I told her
that a broken heart
was a meaningless phrase
it hit me
how I lied
to make the world
seem more what?
rational
like the enthusiasm
a young therapist
must bring to the job
Let's do this thing!

But they're all wrong
the rationals
sadly, as it might be a better world
if they were not.

My heart is broken.
Ah, there is the phrase
and the image --
long discredited:
non-anatomical heart
spouting flames,
encased in thorny brambles.
You know the one
used frequently
in tattoos.

Maybe it's just the rain
or maybe its
leaving my lover
in a place
far, far away
like they say
when mocking fairy tales