HARD EARNED SELF-RESPECT

THIS WAS WRITTEN FOR MY EX-HUSBAND AFTER HE CHOCKED ME AND THREATENED TO KILL MY SON. I AM A SURVIVOR NOT A VICTIM !!

I SCREAMED NIGHT AND DAY

QUIVERING AT THE MERE THOUGHT

OF THOSE DEMONS SEEKING DESTROYING ME

KNOWING IT WAS MY CHOOSE AND MINE ALONE

TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE

OR TO WHITHER AND DIE

LIKE BILE RISING FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL

I FELT THE DEMONS

TEARING AT MY VERY SOUL

SEEKING TO DESTROY THE PEACE I NOW HAVE

THE MEMORIES OF THOSE TERRIBLE TIMES

THREATEN TO OVER TAKE MY CONSCIOUSNESS

YET I FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

I WILL NOT LET THEM WIN

I AM A SURVIVOR

I AM NO LONGER A VICTIM

YOU DEVICES WERE GREAT

CONTROL

ISOLATION

MENTAL ABUSE

THEN PHYSICAL

YOU SOUGHT TO DESTROY ME

I SENT YOU AWAY

PUT IT OUT OF MY MIND

I WORKED HARD

I REGAINED MYSELF

I AM ME AGAIN

YOU CAN NEVER TAKE THAT WAY FROM ME AGAIN

THE BILE PASSED AWAY AS GAS

SHOWING YOU FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE

A SAD, SAD MAN

WHO DESERVES PITY

NOT DISDAIN

I FOUND ONCE I FORGAVE

THE HEALING DID BEGIN

DO NOT GET ME WRONG

FORGIVENESS ISN’T FORGETTING

THE SCARS ARE THERE

BUT NOT SO DEEP

I NOW KNOW THOSE DEMONS ARE YOURS

NOT MINE TO BARE