Small Print (Poetry)

I cannot touch you
you’re no longer mine to touch
I cannot hurt you
old wounds would bleed too much
I cannot answer
when you will not ask me why
I cannot question
and I dare not even try

You cannot lead me
where guilt won’t let me go
You cannot fool me
for my heart will always know
You cannot see me
when you’re looking the wrong way
You cannot save me
for some fabled rainy day

We cannot alter who
we were or might become
We cannot total up
the future’s changing sum
We cannot help ourselves
love comes and goes for free
We cannot win. Who reads
life’s smallprint guarantee?