By: Linda M. Crate

petals of my joy have been
burned away from me
you were an
inspiration to become a better
person,
but you were a fraud
not the moralistic
wholesome christian man you
made me believe you were;
i tried so hard
to make you proud of me
give you reasons to
always bathe in my lilies –
yet you turned me away
sent me into captivity
you called freedom
cheated on me and lied, too,
guess there’s the ugliness
of truth –
took my virginity
without batting a lash
or caring you left me here
shattered as the bruised sky
of your azure eyes;
here i’m left gasping for breath,
wondering how i’m supposed to
trust in anything
especially your name.