Gift

Gift:

 

You give me my sustenance,

The very buoyancy of my solitude.

You tamed the unmanagability of

Warming alone.

 

You give me my inspiration,

The poise to crumble

And taste the bitter water of weeping

As if I were a cadaver.

 

You give me my humility,

Both eyes swell for you

Diluting your farewell stampede

(you can leave without me watching)

 

You give me my bite,

The grit of my teeth,

The snarl that cannot beg

Or plead with you to bless me further.

 

But you cannot give me happiness

And so you leave me with hate

To wrench my eyes, bite my tongue,

And melt alone,

 

Hoping my pride will one day

Open my eyes and unclench my fear

So I might harden…

Harden to wave goodbye.