i write
because i can
i read
because i desire dreams
i hope
because it's all i have
i don't give up
because i don't know how
i love
because of you
i live
because you need me

i live
because i need you.

i will lead you
to the place i've always wanted to be
i will coax you
and train you
and let you know
how good it could be
i will caress your mind
until you realize
that you are powerful
my mistakes
   your fortune
my hesitation
   your confirmation
ignore my insecurity
to ride the whirlwind of achievement
and hold in your hand
the solidness
of your future
and feel in your heart
the security
of peace.

it's been so long
i don't remember
a
   you
i revolve around
   me
i wake knowing
   me
i fall asleep thinking
   me
i answer invites,
make plans,
answer calls
with
   me
i miss
   us
      we
         our
but i only have time for
   me
      you
you've left me
so long ago
   you
have become
   me
only
   me.

i've lost the feeling
of love
i push my mind to the brink
willing it to remember
cradling it with memories
hoping my senses
will recall the familiarity
   of touch
     longing
         anticipation
but there is
   nothing
except i do feel
an ache
deep within
a void
   emptiness
not broken
but not fixed
unexplainable
so not missed
my mind says i haven't given up
but my body says
let it go.

blank stares
of the offended
that plead silently
for mercy
feeds the flame
of the sadistic
allowing continuation
of assault
on the exposed nerve.

the desperate scratching
of words to paper
producing mediocre prose
that beg for likes
leaving the author
breathless and sweating
while awaiting confirmation
he's good enough.

the hopeful shuffling
of the unfortunate
poses the question

why?