Poetry is the Portal

Poetry served as my secret confidant. In early innocent days, I assembled words like LEGO® blocks when my heart felt more than I could speak. On a rare occasion, I presented my poem to a crush, a grade-school girl unsure how to respond.  I felt the risk and sometimes the sting. So I returned to my mask, realizing most people weren't ready for honesty.  But in the quiet shadows, I didn't need to lie.  Poetry became my portal.  POETRY. Art to admire? Or gibberish to ignore? &nb