I Was Preoccupied Poem by Barry Middleton

I was preoccupied, I lived within myself
that cannot be denied

yes I was hard to reach, I think you really tried
you truly did beseech

I had no spirit guide, I only had myself
and never satisfied

I cannot blame a soul, I guess I make excuse
I'm sorry on the whole

I see it as my fault, I needed a retreat
but it was all for naught

I lived within myself, and even now I do
a book upon a shelf

that's all I know to do, I hid within my shame
and love was never true

maybe you understand, I tried to love you too
it was not as I planned

I was preoccupied, I lived within myself
that cannot be denied

so bottled up inside, much too tightly wrapped
without a place to hide

yes I was hard to reach, I think you really tried
you truly did beseech

you were not to blame, you never had a chance
I always stayed the same

I had no spirit guide, I only had myself
and never satisfied

maybe you understand, I tried to love you too
it was not as I planned

I was preoccupied, I lived within myself
that cannot be denied