he kept a furious pace
moving like a whirlwind
he stole all the breath in the room
when he was near
nobody could challenge him
for he had braved fires and waters
and had emerged bigger
bolder
with a keen eye for weakness
a mouth for debate
he faced the endless horizon
with arms akimbo
feet ready to bolt
yet the peculiar appeal
was his ability
to spot a soft heart
and handle it gently
holding the world at arms length
when it all became too much