Limited by Friendship

He was almost afraid
To allow a woman
To become a friend,
Especially if
She was someone
He was attracted to.
There seemed to be
A penalty in friendship,
As if it caused
A line to be drawn
Between them
Which he dared not cross.
Though he thirsted
For the authenticity
Friendship brought,
It was another kind
Of intimacy he sought,
One friendship
Strangely precluded.
It was as if
A certain inauthenticity
Was essential
To breaking the ice,
And friendship hindered
That pretense.