I know what it looks like
But this poem is not for you
❀
I once handed you
The kind of validation
You didn’t deserve
“Yes, you are a good person”
“No, you are not selfish”
❀
I once tied lies
Like bows in your hair
Bit my tongue and
Swallowed the blood
Smiled at you instead
Of leaving for me
❀
This poem is not for you
❀
I tried not to blame you
For the shadow that
Hid me from view but
You were basking in
My invisibility like
The stars revel in
The sun’s absence
❀
This poem is not for you
❀
You wrapped me in
Equations of accusations
That didn’t add up
Wrote my name
On your wounds
Even after I cleaned them
And silently let you pour
Poison into my own
(It wouldn’t have mattered
If I screamed; nobody was listening)
❀
This poem isn’t for you
❀
A person can only
Hold onto a fraying rope
For so long
❀
A person can only
Hold back from looking down
Until the ground is
Racing up to meet them
❀
I tried all I could try
Made myself small in
As many ways as I knew how
Carved myself up in
As many tiny pieces
As I could
❀
I sacrificed my dignity
For far longer than
Any person should
Vomited up the truth
And then tossed dirt over it
So many times that my throat burned
❀
This poem is not for you
❀
I understand now
I should not have stayed
A second after you
Blamed me for
How I was hurting
❀
I deserve better than
A person who sharpens
My vulnerabilities into a knife
❀
This poem is for me
❀❀❀❀❀
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Comments (10)
Hi Poppy ~ Whew, how could I have missed your gorgeous presentations. *As I scroll through them I've subscribed with pleasure. I'm just a retired legal writer morphed into a self-described 'Goof-Writer' nothing more. But, I so appreciate your 'Original' work; a novelty of late. Permission to speak freely? Although I think it's wonderful to see you have a huge following, I'm thinking perhaps I haven't checked you out before because I was turned off by your Handle? 'Poppy' - since I'm not a poetry guy - I just assumed you were just a Poet - but I see I was certainly mistaken about that at 1st blush now seeing such an eclectic assortment of fabulous offerings. Sorry, If I've offended you or invaded your privacy in any way - I've about had it with the atta-boy network of emojis. I like to know why someone reads-me or not. Probably out of curiosity if nothing else. Most of us often wonder when we select a 'Topic' how will people perceive this piece. What they get out of my reads, and why. - With my Respect - 'j' Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California 'Senior' Vocal Author - Vocal Village Community -
This is the one I did awhile back. https://vocal.media/poets/scapegoat-husband
Great job. I wrote something similar to this one from a male perspective. I really enjoy the way you think and write. Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable part of our soul here. That takes great boldness and powerful wild abandon of pride. It goes to show that you’ve healed tremendously from past traumas.
A person can only Hold onto a fraying rope For so long What a STUNNING verse! Well done on this Poppy! Very well done!
My favourite part was our vulnerabilities being sharpened into a knife. That was so relatable! And also how they blame us for how we are hurting. Loved this poem!
This is such a beautiful and powerful poem!
You wrapped me in Equations of accusations That didn’t add up ✨🤍 Something about this I really love. Equations of accusations. 🕊️🙏 Such a beautiful line! This poem feels like it should go on the tombstone of my marriage and divorce … it’s very very apt xx
"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters." (My wife's & sister-in-law's theme song.) Are there ever two more devoted to each other than the narcissist & their victim? Until the victim takes a stand & reclaims themselves.
Powerful!!! Loved it, Poppy!!!
Great poem! You do deserve better!