the rescuer

finding a depth in the

vulnerable person

standing before him---

a hole he feels needs filling

by someone compassionate,

by someone who would just

listen,

he moves closer to her &

offers his hand in help,

he offers his heart in hope that

what he feels to be his own

deficiencies & idiosyncrasies,

will somehow mesh with hers

as if the rescue itself would ensure it---

and for a while her surrender is one

that creates a new place for the both of them,

a context that neither of them needs

in order to promote personal growth &

independence---

nevertheless, the codependence that has

bloomed,

eats at the both of them,

if for any better reason than that they are no longer

the vulnerable individuals that they once were &

because the present situation has become

frustrating at best,

sleepless, paranoid eyes

begin to look around for blame,

inevitably taking them both back to

the moment when the rescue

began.