She’d laid the stones in ordered rows, Well-founded tall and wide. None could breach the walls she’d made. They’d keep her safe inside. He’d forged his armor from the steel That served his father well. No blow or thrust could cause him harm On Earth or deep in Hell. So when they met, they were secure From any kind of harm, And free to court without a care, To know each other’s charm. And make of walls and armor bright A common self-defense, To be what others sought to be, Such paragons of sense. For if a stranger tried to get a Piece of either soul, The other raised a stout defense And keep their union whole, And used the armor and the wall To keep the world at bay, To keep them safe to work at life And give them room to play. It worked. It worked. But when he died, and left her there With walls and polished tin, She found the walls that kept want out, Now only kept her in, With none to trust and none to love, And none to hear her pray For God to give her back her life, And take those walls away.