at arm’s length

Your once-faint scent lingers still.
Yet, no longer do you command my longing.
You have become a mere symbol,
Of the lessons etched painfully into my soul.

I once believed your presence devoid of meaning,
Your jaded eyes nothing more than instruments
Of mockery and torment.
Yet, these were the findings of a fool,
A fool who had forgotten that you, too,
Bled as I bled.

You need not forgiveness,
But understanding,
For the blame is mine to bear.
Unwillingly, you played the role I cast for you
In my tragedy.
I fault you no longer,
For it was my own wounds
That set our bridges aflame.

What could have been will never be.
Yet here I rest, at peace,
Though forever at arm’s length,
Knowing I shall never reach you.

Reviews

[Destiny]

A stunning journey of the torment of unrequited love. I have been there many times myself and the pain never becomes any less. And I still haven't learned to stop doing this. A hopeless romantic's fate it seems. Thank you for this.

[Green]

I’ve fallen into this trap myself; making something in my head and then falling in love with the idea of something that isn’t really there. It takes a good of maturity and self reflection to recognize that sometimes you were also a part of the problem. And that’s not even going into how the lingering feelings seem to last longer in those cases. That certainly doesn’t excuse anyone else’s behavior or choices but two things can both be true.