She iced into a cold fish,

hardened into granite,

became a gray rose,

touched loneliness

of no feeling --

although 

she swims in warm water,

is sky from a stone, 

loves yellow roses,

tears at the break of a butterflies wing.

For 30 minutes in skin of steel,

impenetrable, she remained

hiding from her heart until

her spirit forced her out.

She cannot turn away from

loving,

even with the risk of feeling

sorrow.