What You Owe Me

Moving forward.

E…you took my youth

You took my spirit

You took my love

And crushed it beneath your boot.

 

You took my children

You took my freedom

You took my confidence

And snubbed it out with one sentence.

 

You continually take my peace

You shatter my calm

You bleed me through policy

And you steal my time.

 

K…you took my hope

You took my vitality

You took my dreams

And sucked them from my soul.

 

You nickel and dime me

You rewrite history to suit you

You take my children’s happiness

And use it as a weapon for your own martyrdom.

 

You took my body

You took my career

You took my new life’s fledgling steps

And cast them to the crucifix that you bear.

 

Both of you made a life with me

Both of you make a life of me

Both of you tally your shares

Of my current and future gains.

 

What do I owe either of you

Regardless of any past or present wrongs

That I may or may not have been guilty of?

Nothing.

For the wounds that you inflicted

Upon my fragile soul

And naked flesh

Bear not only your brands

But the mark of my own hands.

 

I am sorry that I can no longer

Fill the empty spaces in your souls

Through the sacrifice of my life and spirit

But what I have left belongs to me and is shared

By one who deserves a chance to prove

She deserves what little spirit she has left

After giving it all to your kindred spirits

Who want only to suck the marrow

From others’ bones.

 

What do you owe me?

There is a fine question.

After a collective thirteen years

Of continual assault

And apathy,

Do I deserve restitution?

 

No.

No damages to be paid.

No apologies to be written.

No clemency to be sought.

Just allow me to live my life

And allow my children to live theirs

Without having to come to hate you both

For your misanthropic attitudes

Towards those who tried

And failed

To love you.

Reviews

[Mark]

A deeply philosophical approach to loves labours lost, my friend. Your pain resonates through each line, and I like the conclusions you have arrived at: NOT "No Harm, No Foul", but rather, "Enough Blame To Share On Both (All?) Sides, Now Let's Drop It and Move On". A poignant reminder to all who have loved, and would love again.

[Chris G. Vaillancourt]

another piece of pure magic

[Joiedevivre]

You nickel and dime me
You rewrite history to suit you
You take my children’s happiness
And use it as a weapon for your own martyrdom.
I think this was my mother and you are my father. This makes so much sense to me.

[Craig Froman]

You journey us through these dark passages of your history.. places locked tight in your heart and mind, striking out still against your peace. May you find that meadow of light and be able to put behind you the pain inflicted on you by another.. one who should have been trustworthy.. Powerful write.

[Angela]

An incredible, deeply emotive write. One can feel the anger and despair. You have crafted this well. " I am sorry I can no longer fill the empty spaces in your souls" OUCH. What truth lies there. We sometimes count on others to fulfill our every need and realize to late that we have forgotten how ourselves. Wonderful.

[Georgia Gypsy]

And now that that is out of your system, the horizon for you looks bright my friend. I'm lifting you up in thoughts and good wishes always.