EIGHTEEN INCHES

it's only eighteen inches
from the mind down to the heart
but sometimes those two cities
seem eight hundred miles apart
.
the hearts go running wildly
leaving minds with feet of clay
the mind shouts out a warning
but the heart just spins away
.
the mind relies on logic
full of guidelines, have no doubt
while hearts take flights of fancy
that you just can't figure out
.
it's only eighteen inches
though that distance may seem small
the path may grow so darkened
you can't find your way at all
.
the mind then wins the battle
tying down the heart that leaps
although the heart may struggle
in due time, it finally sleeps
.
the heart will keep on beating
like a creature stuck in mud
that leaves the mind to run things
while content to just pump blood
.
it's only eighteen inches
from the heart up to the mind
and it can be a road
containing curves, both steep and blind
.
the heart may send some love notes
that the mind's not keen to read
but if a heart's tenacious
in the end, it will succeed
.
the mind begins to waver
like a flower in the sun
with hands thrown in surrender
it admits the heart has won