Intimacy - a poem

Intimacy.

he slowly opened his chest
pulled out that which was hidden inside -
the broken and the blackened
the polished and the cared for
were laid at her feet
covered in shrouds of words,
erratic thoughts and expectations.
he shielded himself with a choked joke
wrapped his arms around himself
as she picked through the treasures
he'd placed in front of her
she knew that he'd never let anyone see this much of him
that this was an honour never to be shared
she touched it all, trembling at the responsibility,
she saw the appalling beauty and the terrific horror
of what he kept within his chest, in his heart
and she loved him more