To the One I Loved

I want to thank you for being a complete ass I learned so much from you as if I were in class You were the teacher of life’s many lessons As your pupil, I took them as disguised blessings I had experienced things I’d never been through Now I’m a master and I’m here to say thank you Thank you for lying to me about your marriage From the very beginning you were burning that bridge I never thought I would deal with a married man But apparently, that was just a part of your plan Tired of what was at home, you preyed on me Naïve and green at the age of twenty-three Thank you so much for punching me in my face I’m guessing I needed to be put in my place? From the very first hit, my eyes started to open But love decided to keep me prisoner back then The hair pulling, face spitting, and yes, the neck choking Were all because it was you I was “provoking” Thank you for hurting me with your spiteful words Guess you thought my love was for the birds I was a *****, I was ugly, I was uppity, I was fat An annoying sore you couldn’t help but pick at Powerless in your world, you tried controlling mine So your verbal abuse was used to keep me in line Thank you for abandoning me in my time of need Leaving me alone to deal with my pregnancy Times I was sick, I had no one to console me You left me alone so that you didn’t have to hold me I gave birth in the presence of your absence While you secretly laughed at my heart’s expense Thank you for teaching me all about relationships That sense shouldn’t be dimmed by love’s eclipse Before I get too deep, I should know his intentions And that I could avoid hurt if I just pay attention I am of worth and I shouldn’t be disrespected I deserve love and I shouldn’t be neglected My heart is of gold and should be protected Reciprocation of love should be expected My heart should not be force fed suspicion So my trust should be earned, not easily given To the one I won’t name, I want to say thank you For all the *****that you have put me through.