Substance Abuse

Genuine gestures;
Affirmations of affection,
Heartfelt, romantic,
Natural, easy.

Warm expressions of tenderness,
Honest offerings of concern, interest,
Subtle signs of kindness,
Pure, earnest.

Hollow gestures;
Insincerities served with a smile,
Seasoned, said for quite a while,
Opportunities to beguile.

Sincerity feigned, faked,
Stop gap to plug relationship crack,
Emotional tides to hold back,
Love tepid, open to attack.

Empty gestures lacking substance,
Leaving both depleted, exhausted.
One desperate for authenticity,
One engaged in substance abuse.

Lynn Martin McHale 4/10/14 Copyright All Rights Reserved