Standing back from these burning embers

Ashes that once represented my life

Once filled with blissful happiness

Now pain cuts my soul like a knife

With a great big hole in my heart

A space you once occupied

From grief of your loss

I’ve ached, mourned and cried

You wouldn’t see it through

Started but couldn’t finish

Re-opening fragile wounds

Preventing pain to diminish

An incessant, irresistible tease

So artfully come and go

Lead me on then disappear

Like tidal ebb and flow

Only fantasies provide refuge

The sole private space we can steal

The one place I can be with you

Where your other one just isn’t real

The fog will someday dissipate

At tunnel’s end there’ll be light

Both recovery and transcendence

Are in my near future’s sight

I thought I could be stronger

For your affection I can’t compete

I give up and say Uncle

Back down and claim defeat

And abandon this illusion

Pretending that we’re real

Stop this pain from compounding

Allowing my heart to feel

Now release my heart strings

And end your marionette show

I’ll no longer perform for you

Make your choice or let me go

 Copyright 2016-4-24- L.M. Giannone