you cannot
teach an old dog
new tricks
you can
lead a horse to water
but
you cannot
make it drink

you can
close yourself off
from the world
but
you cannot
stop the need

and

you have proven
time and again
you can
take my heart
and crush it
but
you cannot
love me in return

i am the old dog
not loving you
is the trick
you are the horse
with abject refusal
to drink me in

allow me
to just roll over
once again
to your silent denials
as you
shower me
with false affection

i would
trade my paws
for hooves
if only
to show you
that your callused heart
has gone sour