In the quiet corners where my feelings dwell,  

I search for words, but struggle to tell.  
For ten(+) long years, my heart's been your art,  
Yet I stand in shadows, afraid to impart.  

Oh Mary, sweet Mary, you shine like the dawn,  
A beacon of kindness, so gentle, so strong.  
In classrooms you nurture young minds every day,  
While I fumble for courage, just wishing to say—  

That love is a fortress where I long to reside,  
But nervousness creeps in, and I want to hide.  
I seek what you carry, that warmth in your voice,  
A hint of assurance, a reason to rejoice.  

With each query of love, my heartbeat doth race,  
Yet I falter and falter, unsure of my place.  
In a world filled with words, my own are confined,  
A jumbled array of the fears I can't find.  

As a bodybuilder, I've forged strength in my frame,  
But within this emotional brawl, I feel shame.  
Your brother lent hands as I conquered each trial,  
Yet here I entangle, my heart in denial.  

So tell me, dear Mary, in phrases profound,  
Wrap words in affirmation, let softness abound.  
For before I confess, before I lay bare,  
I need to know deeply, you hold me with care.  

In this dance of the heart, where vulnerability thrives,  
Let me feel your love pulse, in the way that it drives.  
I promise I'll open, when the moment is right,  
Just whisper that I'm safe, and I'll step into light.  

So let your heart tethered, with wisdom and grace,  
Guide me to freedom, a warm, loving space.  
With big words like kindness, like empathy’s art,  
Tell me that I’m safe, before I share my heart.  ❤️