What You Took
A poem
I didn’t know you planned
on taking everything from me.
I thought
you wanted my smile
and my passion.
That my youth
was just another reason
to desire me.
I didn’t know
you needed me to be strong
because you would do your best
to break me.
I didn’t know
you would succeed at that.
You managed
to take away hope
and replace it
with sheer terror.
You succeeded
at wiping away the smile
I used to carry
on my drive home,
eager to be with you.
I used to ache your touch,
your love, your mere presence;
you were a balm to my soul.
You took that too.
I know the crowd loves
happy conclusions,
but I don’t know if I can
give one to them.