Reworked a 2019 poem

I like your new title.

Line 7:  already said in line 4
Line 7 is also telling.  

I like the couplet format.  I'd stick with it throughout the poem.

It seems that never and always work together here.  Nice.

I like the dedication.

I like your suggestions. This better?

Never Pick a Fight with a Stove

I’ll approach a cool stove
but only to clean it.

I once tried to cook.
Anxiety held my hand on the burner.

The burn never healed;
the pain always spikes near the stove.

You saw me skirt around the stove.
So you take my hand

and together … one step
a little closer.
_______________________________
Renee V. Barger
December 2, 2019
Dedicated to my husband Devan

Two kinds of pain here, right?  That's how I read it.

Renee

I am still trying to figure what doesn't work for me in this poem, sorry.

For me the power of the poem is in the other party taking the hand of the persona to walk through a fear.  

The title leads me to a "How To" poem and then I remain confused.

I am not sure what "Anxiety" means.  It is personification and thus adds another party in the poem (doesn't seem like three people are necessary)

Please offer me some feedback so I can grasp what you want to leave with the reader.

Thanks in advance

Todd

Pat, I’m not sure about the two pains. I hadn’t really thought of it.

Todd, um... the only thing I can think to explain why I wrote Anxiety as another person because I am trying to remember that “I am not anxiety.” Viewing anxiety as a cruel person who holds my hand on the stove - something that I grow to fear - is the best way I can explain it. I’m exaggerating a little bit in this poem, because I am not that scared of the stove. But, sometimes, it can feel that way. I sure hope this is making some sense. In the end, I needed someone to help me approach what I fear. In real life, it’s usually social gatherings that are intimidating to me. So, I guess I could just axe this poem and write a new one that’s more to real life. In the moment as I was writing it, it made sense to me. Haha.

Renee

I think there is charm here.  It is the distinction of another helping through the fear.  What if the title reflects your interaction with the stove and "husband" helps the persona through fear for a win/win revision?

Todd

Oh I like that idea! It may take me some time to rework it. Thank you!

Is this kinda what you had in mind?

She No Longer Cooks

She’ll approach a cool stove
but only to clean it.

She often babies her hand;
the burn never healed.

I see her skirt around the stove.
So I take her hand

and together … one step
a little closer.
_______________________________
Renee V. Barger
January 3, 2019
Dedicated to my husband Devan

Right.  You show the anxiety and save her by taking her hand.  She is no longer alone and is with you as she faces fear.  Nice.

Editing.  Pays off.