Grace

What do you do
When the ones you love the most
No longer love you the same?
What do you do
When the sacrifice is no longer enough;
When there is no amount of forgiveness
That can quench their wrath;
When you cease to be a confidant
And are reduced to an inconvenience?

What do you do
When the slights sustained
Are added up
And you have no grace left to give;
When the brutality of their words
Hurt more than even rejection;
When the countless tears
Are then counted against you?

What do you do
When you begin to question
The unconditional love you’ve given
For years too numerous to count;
When one more malevolent word
Might break the bond beyond repair;
When the love you feel for them
No longer surpassed their hate?

What do you do
When your life is weighed against theirs
And you are made to be lesser
Even though your love was greater;
When you are made to be a failure
Because your best is no longer adequate;
When your Grace is not discounted
As if you yourself are nothing?

How do you love that one
Who you fight for tirelessly
When they no longer see you?

Reviews

[Patricia]

Hello love, I’m so struck by this like lightening, it’s painful to imagine anyone feeling this rejected. I could sit her and play a list of platitudes but I am sure that is useless. But I will say this, love yourself first and I mean this, if you don’t you will only ever see yourself through someone else’s eyes and that is a self imposed punishment. I do speak from experience and I love myself and everyone around me are positive forces in my life. This was well written and keep writing it is cathartic.

[barleygirl]

This is raw & powerful & honest & relatable. I had this very thing happen to me in my life regarding my family. For decades I thought it was more mutual than it was. When I found out otherwise, I also felt like screaming out my questions as you've done in this poem. Even tho you describe how many people would feel in this situation, the thing I don't like about your message is how there's a passage comparing the narrator & the ones who rejected him/her. Who is lesser & who is greater? These are futile questions even tho many people go there & waste their emotional energy thinking people must've felt this way or that way. We can't know why people reject us. All we can do is walk away & find people with whom we resonate naturally (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Shannon Miller]

Thank you for the review! I really appreciate all of your reviews on my writing.

In this poem, when the narrator compares themselves to the one hurting them, I was comparing myself to one specific person. I can say with full confidence that my love was greater, not because I am better, but because of my capacity to love vs theirs. Anyone who knows us would agree with me. I wouldn't make this comparison with anyone other than the person this poem is about. I'm also not saying this so that you like the poem better, just explaining my reasoning. Again, thank you for all the reviews. Much love.

[Chris Shaw]

This is a really sad poem when you feel alienated from those you love the most. It's complex and I would wonder what started this whole process. I felt emotional pain in your lines and thought two solutions. You either start rebuilding brick by brick and that might take a long time or you turn your back and walk away. Neither are easy solutions. Look after your heart.

Chris

[Shannon Miller]

Thank you so much for the review! This was very encouraging. Fortunately, things have improved with the person I wrote this poem about.

[Chris Shaw]

I am really pleased to hear that. Poetry, is great therapy.