You asked if I wanted joy

And I spoke only of pain.

You wished me laughter

And I found tears.

And I ached

And you wept.

I closed myself,

Offering only those small-

Sheltered parts of me

Limbs and feelings I thought well under control

You found it unacceptable

And dug beneath to seek for more

And you found the crack in the wall

Which you opened

To allow the flood to break free.

And though we had pain--

Such pain--

You let the light into my soul

Hope emerging from the box of horrors.