the writer

old, yet young
tender, yet formidable
the delicacy of her features
offset by the surety
of her gaze

unsettled
and unsettling
never finding satisfaction
in any man, woman,
thing, emotion
that comes her way

making everyone else
feel like cowards
for giving in to
complacency
mediocrity
easy soft pillows of
love and affection

feared for doing so
and yet, loved, too,
for the same