Shelf Life

You won my heart and put it on a trophy shelf
And then stopped by to visit now and then.
I wondered how I was to entertain myself
And if you might be seeing other men.

I wonder why you bothered in the first place
To tell me I was destined to be yours,
And then you went and put me in the worst place
Where I could only see you through glass doors.

To feel such love and yet to be left standing
Inside a case as if to be displayed.
It did not cross my mind to be demanding,
But what you did had left me so dismayed.

Alone upon that shelf I started needing
At least some time to take a breath of air,
And find a way to keep my heart from bleeding
Because I had to live without your care.

Your promise always seemed off in the future,
But you were worth the lifetime I would wait.
I wondered if you’d think I was a moocher
For wanting you before it got too late.

One day by chance there came to me a visitor.
A friend was all I ever let her be,
But you found out and wouldn’t be inquisitor-
But treated me as if an enemy.

I guess this means I’m right back where I started,
For who was I to even dream of you?
Your beauty had to leave me broken hearted,
And there is nothing else that I can do.

John H. Bidwell