Never Again: A Break-up Poem by the “Keep Your Sorry” Rainbow Reclaimers

Never again will i

pretend to want something that i don’t want

pretend to be someone i am not

compromise my well being

hide my pain

settle

apologize for what i need

never again

fighting so much

more processing than lovemaking

being unsupported

lying

betraying

moving too fast

giving up my own bliss, my own path

not being “chosen”

never again

sticking around for the puzzle that doesn’t want to be solved

hoping for my partner to stay frozen or locked in place

never again

hungry-starving for affirmation and acceptance

shame about my own dancing

sleeping with my friends or people i work with

never again

will i betray someone or myself

be duplicitous

accept lies and half-truths

be with someone who makes me feel uninteresting

be with someone just out of a very long relationship

be with someone with no self care hobbies

be with someone selfish in sex

never again will i

equate sex with intimacy

say i’m sorry just to make someone feel better

never again will alcohol abuse or emotional abuse be part of my relationships

i will always trust myself and never lie to myself ever

never again will I dull my light to make you feel more comfortable in the dark

never again will i make myself less amazing and desirable so that you can be worthy of me

never again will i let my desire to be right outweigh your desire to be loved for who you are.

-July 24, 2011  Inspiration Station, Durham, NC