Words that cut me like a knife,

Cruel, sharp and shrill,

Lay in the air like smoke

Long after they've been said.

You seem to want to hurt me.

It's become your primary goal,

And you should be quite proud.

You've become so expert at it.

You are an accomplished craftsman

At taking the truth,

Bending and shaping it so carefully

Until it suits your purpose.

You take everything I hold so dear,

The things that are important to me,

The people I love,

The person that I am,

And chip away at them

Until I'm left holding nothing

But fear, questions and doubt.

I've tried so hard to understand,

To see that it comes from hurt and unhappiness,

And so I've returned your well-directed blows

With nothing but kindness and love

But you're wearing me down,

Introducing me to anger and bitterness.

I can forgive what you say and do to me,

Even though it hurts so deeply,

But if you make me become someone else,

Bring an edge of hardness to who I am,

Make me doubt all that I know is real,

I will never be able to forgive you for that.

©1997 Gail Von Schlichting

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