I sought to touch you deep in your heart

But I didn't know where to begin, where do I start

I had an idea; I could put my feelings in rhyme

I guess I really blew it this time

I couldn't see this was just my superfluous pen

I underestimated you; I'll never do it again

I know now that with you, that I am just ordinary

How could I impress someone so extraordinary

So you have humbled me, this is no easy feat

It hasn't been done before; I didn't think I could be beat

But you had an edge I didn't see. You had my heart

And I never had a chance to even play my own part

Now if you get a chance to read these words I write

Know that I'm beaten, and won't put up a fight

So I can't impress you, I'm not some great Silverback

Not the king of the pride-lands, just some second rate hack

But did you read in the words the romance, the love

Though never together, we were intertwined like two fluttering doves

The words I spoke weren't just ordinary sentiment

They came from a man who said what he meant

These words may not have been crafted like yours that I've heard

But with a simple rhyme true love was spoken with ordinary words

Maybe you heard another feeble attempt of a man's desire to possess you

But maybe you didn't read a feeble man's attempt to shower his love on you

There are many things in life this man can do

And the one that escapes me, is that I can't have you

I thought my love and desire for you was enough

That living without your love wouldn't be that tough

But a tougher thing I have never known

It's just not enough loving you all alone

I want the romance, candlelight, long walks on the beach

Am I such a dreamer, that these things are way out of my reach

I can't believe that you would not give true love a chance

I cannot believe that you wouldn't give an honest man at least one slow dance

Your heart is so pure, so simple, so true

It just seems so fitting that this simple man have a simple love for you

With your will so strong you have people believing you’re a bitch

But I see right through that façade and I love every inch

The shell you put up makes loving you really rough

But all my life, all I've ever learned is how to be tough

And I have every intention of loving you way past pain

And if this overwhelms you, I'll have to say, I'm sorry again

But you know really I'm not, because you deserve a love for once that is kind

And there never was a man who stated it as true, as this one did this time

You deserve the love and support of someone who is free

Free to see your possibilities and all that you could be

With me our happiness will never settle for second best

We'll take what we want and let the others settle for the rest

With you by my side, this simple man can go far

With you by my side, there is no limit to your star

I've never won a beauty contest, but just look in my eyes

You can see the wonder of the world and maybe just realize

This poem doesn't end and my love can never die

And isn't love the end-all, be-all, the ultimate prize

We can have the money, the security, all the fancy future rust

But who wants living in a tax shelter all covered with dust

Let's just do it all, live in love, then shake these mortal coils leaving not a penny

And when they look in our purses they'll be empty

When they look for our regrets they won't find any

Think about it, who loves you like I do, can do what I do, and still let you be you

Robert Steward

1997

To Allison Swartz. Allison was one of the few times I wrote like crazy. I have several poems to her. Amazing because aside from the movie we made together I never kissed her or held her hand. (although in the movie we had several nude love scenes together) It was just a very emotional and creative time in my life. I was going through a divorce and my children moved back to New Jersey with their mother. (the most devasting thing to ever happen to me)