THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE

THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE

I would slip a sad apology, underneath your bedroom door.
A list of all my shortcomings, broken on your dusty floor.

But the battle lines are fierce and drawn,
The armies do formations on manicured lawns.

Love’s astray, in grand decay, my serenity’s hard won.
The ship has sailed for distant shores, the damage has been done.

And where were you when I was bleeding crimson,
In colors bright as autumn leaves?

Where were you when I was drifting lost,
Teardrops scattered in the evening breeze?

I crave your attention and fear the tension
Between who you are and who you claim to be.

Why do you keep such a distance, taking the path of least resistance?
You claim to love me, yet there’s this frightening dissonance,
And perhaps I demand more than you could ever give,
Clinging fast to your tender mercies, struggling just to live.

You could slip an articulate explanation under my front door,
A detailed list of your many failings, archived on the floor.

And maybe I could smile and shrug, but forgiveness beats a hollow drum,
For the ship has sailed for distant shores, and the damage has been done.

-Bruce Potts
Copyright 2008
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED