Masked Dichotomies Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

Must life's train be constrained, vain self contain,
May self-effacement ease heartache, disdain?
Must mirage rain slake lost-in-desert bane,
May dreams' ream verse bring love to life again?
Must stalking hawk-eyed hawkers grey prey, pain.
May heart's refrain touch who'd from touch refrain?

Can conversation compensate for wide
disparities between speech-reach inside
and barricades behind which hearts mask, hide,
where one greets and the other's grates abide
spite needs apparent, though those needs denied
are tantamount to self-rejection sighed.

Dichotomies between acts and attraction
can't heal heart's hurt, leave hope too little traction.