What They Lose When You Withdraw
Relationships are roles
and roles are rehearsed
until someone stops showing up
That’s when you see
who they are
without the performance
I want a clean exchange
care for care
value for value
Love does not replace value
It exposes whether it was ever there
The bare minimum keeps things running
but reverence
keeps them alive
If the person taking my order
makes me feel like a nuisance
I leave
Not in anger
in alignment
Air is vital
yet free
So no one protects it
Gold is useless
yet rare
So people kill for it
Scarcity teaches
What comfort hides
Everything you say yes to
costs you a no somewhere else
And too many no’s
to yourself
turn into a life
You didn’t choose
In solitude
You can build
In slavery
You cannot
Sometimes we mistake attachment
for loyalty
and endurance
for love
But when you pull back your attention
And they ask what’s wrong
nothing is wrong
You are simply no longer
carrying bricks
for someone else’s castle
Manipulation feeds on reaction
on guilt
on noise
So give it none
Gravity doesn’t argue
When you fall
It simply is
They cannot hook you
If there is nothing
to grab
In the silence
They are left alone
with their own toxicity
And you
finally free
to decide
What kind of life
Are you building
Your own
or someone else’s empire
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
