The Only One I Know

Stripping me bare
of everything
I have
everything
I am
He takes ahold of
my heart
and breaks it
in two
wanting his strong arms
around me
loving me, holding me
I, instead, feel
the threat, the hurt
of his anger
painfully stabbing
at my soul
my heart
my skin
my everything
trying to pull back
from the miserable happiness
I push forward, instead
not knowing any other
but him
not ever loving any other
but him
I ended up
staying
staying for the
hurt
staying for the
broken heart
and oceans of
tears
because he. . .
is the only one I know
my first love
he . . . is the only one I know

1995