I am many . . .

It's about breaking away from any abusive relationship.

I don’t bench 80 to prove  

how I knock them down,  

nor do I flaunt trophies  

to showcase my victories.  

I’ve kept my faith,  

even when unaware,  

hidden deep inside,  

always quietly there.  

They’ve tried to break me,  

but they’ve failed to hold me down.  

I’ve disguised my pain  

behind a mask of smiles.  

Tears soaked in cocaine,  

my heart grew numb,  

yet through it all,  

I learned to stay in control.  

I meticulously plotted my escape,  

determined to rise above the pain,  

to break free from enslavement  

and your treachery.  

I did it once;  

watch me do it again.  

Don’t try to keep me in a glass cage;  

I’ll find the loophole to slip through.  

Haven’t you learned by now  

that conformity is NOT for me?  

I will spread my wings  

and fly where I choose�"  

with or without you,  

it makes no difference to me.  

You’ll get the boot  

if you won’t lift me up.  

I have no time to waste  

on pathetic fools like you.  

So say goodbye.  

I’ll never fall as your victim;  

you thought you had me�"  

how foolish do you think I am,  

to let you control me?  

The only thing I owe you  

is the strength you’ve unleashed.  

I may be a jack of many trades,  

but to be your prisoner  

is a role I refuse to play.  

(c) Chong Kim, 2012

Reviews

[Vivek Koshy]

You travel with emotions, and you keep them close.
Your poem shows just that, and you "refuse to be".
It shows a lot; bridged along well too.