The two of you
Look at me -
When you're not
At each other's throats,
You're still not content
With peace.
I try to explain all of the ways
You've hurt me,
Patiently,
As though I am the adult;
As though you are
The children.
We've had this so many times,
But you do not change -
You don't want to, you refuse
To take any blame.
Nineteen years -
Nothing's changed.
I cry,
And you ask how I
Have the nerve.
No words can move you,
But I look
Into your eyes,
And I think
"What a wonderful life
You could have given me",
Though you wouldn't
Understand; you will not
Change, not for
Anything or anyone.
I've tasted that life now,
What love is -
I see your arrogance
For what it is,
And I forgave you;
I forgave you,
But you still do to my sisters,
Your daughters,
What you did to me.
I see them shrink away, cry,
Endure the toxicity
Now that I'm not there
To shield them
Anymore. I see them
Crumble, believe your words,
And I am seething
Once again.
It took me the longest time
To learn I was
Worth being angry for;
Worth fighting for,
And that was your fault;
That is your fault
In those girls,
But I know what we're worth.
I wonder
Where you'll be
When they, too, leave.
Perhaps you'll regret it then:
Perhaps you'll feel enough
To understand
When we say
"What a wonderful life
You could have given us."
YOU ARE READING
Refraction.
PoetrySo many aspects, colours and themes make up our experiences. Truly, is anything entirely good or entirely bad? Upon weighing up the positives and negatives of the past, do we not admit that even tragedy is- in a twisted sort of way- advantageous? O...
