This Time

This time, I've relinquished the quest, A weary heart, once aflame, now finds no rest. I've loved with abandon, with every fiber of my being, Yet, the echoes of pain still linger, a haunting refrain that keeps repeating. A fragment of a man, I remain, scarred and worn, My heart a canvas of gorges, etched with the lines of love forlorn. Why does love elude me, a mirage on the horizon's frame? Have I been cursed, or is it fate's cruel design, to forever bear the weight of love's shame? I've given all, with an open heart, and arms that once held tight, But all I've garnered is anguish, a harvest of tears, and endless night. Fear grips my soul, as I contemplate love's treacherous terrain, No more pain, no more heartache, I implore, let me be spared from love's refrain. This time, I seek to guide my heart, to navigate love's uncertain tide, To safeguard myself, and not be swept away, by emotions that I've tried. It can't be my destiny, to forever walk the path of sorrow and woe, I yearn to find solace, to heal, and to know peace, and let my heart be still. What more can I do? I've cared, I've loved, I've stood by, through trials and strife, I've been kind, and cool, and I've given all, with a heart full of life.