He walked out with nothing
  but the steely set of his back
As if posture could remove
  the humiliation of begging for love

He told his friend later
   in confidence

That he would have groveled for love
  but groveling was the same as leaving
He would have cried for love
  but his cries would have only moved himself

She's a piece of stone
  he said
Who would imagine 
  that I would love a piece of stone