Today, I challenge you to write a non-apology for the things you’ve stolen. Maybe it’s something as small as your sister’s hairbrush (or maybe it was your sister’s boyfriend!) Regardless, I hope this sly prompt generates some provocative verse for you.
That was me
13 April 20
0755
I’ve taken time and emotion from you
I’ve taken your secrets and your heart to boot
I’ve taken your trust and yes perhaps your love, if that is what you call it
I’ve taken from you
And what did I give in return
Hours of tears alone that you’ll never see
Hours of conversations and promises you never meant
Hours of solitude in cross country trips only to return home, alone, without you to face as a companion
So if what I took, that you freely gave, is now being called stolen
Then yes I stole from you,
I stole things that have no tangible value
I’ve robbed you of things that have no financial value
I’ve pilfered things you held dear
But I did so because there was no lock on them
There was no sign indicating a price
There was no ink pack bursting as I left your house
You said they were mine
And now, because I’ve moved on, because I’ve taken from another, because I didn’t make you the center of my world,
You want back what I cannot give
You want me to reverse time and deny myself any chance at happiness that I’ve found
You want my whole body, soul and mind that when added up together costs less than a diner for two on the McDonald’s dollar menu.
Who is stealing from whom
Who is being unreasonable
Who cant admit they made bad choices
Who was trying to change someone into what THEY wanted, and not what the person told you they were
You said you knew me
You said you could feel me from miles away through my voice and written words
So I didn’t lie to you
I didn’t defile you
I didn’t deceive you
I just didn’t read your mind and do what you wanted
I just didn’t conform to your ideal mate
I just didn’t end my life for you
And now here we are
You want an apology
And I have nothing to confess
