exculpate

i recognize i'm quick to hurt
wounded too easy by passing slights
wary too oft and hold on too long

i recognize i leap before i look
and blame the ground whereon i land
for giving no support, forgiving no support

i recognize my role in love gone wrong
and though it does not exculpate me
in recompense, in my defense, this:

i don't love easy
but i do love
my love hard and fast
for i don't love many
but i do love muchly
and when i love
i love to last