Stranger
So long ago, or so it now seems,
I lost you and all of our dreams
because you'd changed inside,
a stranger you could no longer hide
In all the years of loving you
somehow I think I always knew
we would never make it to the end
but I stayed, trying hard to pretend
that we could save what we once had
Now it's all gone, the good and bad
I'm suffering through the healing years
filling the oceans with my tears
and still I cry; in bitter sorrow they pour
I wish I didn't love you anymore
Do you know what you should've said
on any night we lay together in bed?
"I'm sorry that I've made you cry
Please don't leave. Don't say goodbye
It's not too late. I know I'm wrong
My problems have gone on too long
and I'll get help because I'm to blame
I love you and I feel ashamed
I know I hurt you by closing the door
but I promise not to hurt you anymore
I've been a fool for letting you down
Please tell me that you'll stay around
I need you. Please stay with me
I'll be a better husband, you'll see
I want to keep you by my side
Please, tell me your love hasn't died."
Those are the words I longed to hear
Saying them would've kept me near
Words only in my head, not in your heart
It was your weakness that tore us apart
I wanted to see your repentant tears fall
I pleaded with you. I had to crawl,
but you didn't say any of those things
It was to your bottle you chose to cling
You allowed evil to have its beguiling way
as you became more of a stranger each day
I'll always have regrets. For you I still long
I had to sing the last word of our love song
How I trembled when I had to walk away
My aching heart thinks about you every day
August 3rd, 2017
The Poet's Ache Contest
Sponsored by Greg Barden
Original Post ~ May 4th, 2016 ~
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