The Misconception of the Tender Heart

to the sainted woman who stands
upon the shores of her misconception,
and hurls disparagements, guised in canons,
for the path I have chosen,
I say, "here is my deficiency,
my destitution, my dissonance;
here are the scars that I carry
with pride and resolve,
gained of the many battles waged;
I survived, though not as you perceive,
but with tender heart intact,
ever and always the subtle victor."