Poem; When you

When you said I was welcome

But not my kids

Or my dog

When you blew up at me for

My not knowing

My greenness

When you came into my town

And didn’t call

Or stop by

When you chose to ignored me

All My beauty

And my pain

I forgive you

All of you

When you spoke sharply to me

For your own pain

In our grief

When you promised me we’d play

Later – you said

Then we didn’t

When you said you’d do something

I was hopeful

And you didn’t

When you left things Incomplete

Ongoing half-done

Or undone

I forgive you

All of you

When you called me a liar

When you didn’t want

To hear truth

When you just called me a bitch

As I stood up

For myself

When you withheld hugs, kisses

My soul withered

And shriveled

When you said I was stupid

I believed you

But wasn’t

I forgive you

All of you

I refuse to let you steal

Space in my head

And my heart

When you left me here broken

In compassion

I choose love

When I say you I mean me – too

I forgive me

I wasn’t

What you needed when needed – too

I forgive me

And you – too