Taught live by the sword, die by the sword. Not a death I desire to have on me poured. How many times did you make me cry? How many times did you let your hand fly? You were so sure that you would always get away Ran into the house, told me I better lie or I’d pay. Cops knocked on the door fear on both sides Lie to the law or get beat, moral and fear collides. Split second choices had to be made quick. Fear from him was more to the point of being sick. Law come to visit me next day at work Told me they could help me get away from that jerk. I didn’t trust them, I had to go home to him What if he knew the come and I talked to them? I was real paranoid to say the least that day. I rehearsed all the way home on what to say. No one knew his anger nor his wrath he had But I did I seen it, I heard it, felt all it’s bad. Luckily that night you had company over. Couldn’t show your true colors or blow your cover. I was always taught you reap what you sow. I was also taught to love all, even my foe. I forgave your cruelty and immoral acts Never again would I do it and that’s facts. I pray you have made peace with the Lord. I was taught if you live by the sword you will die by the sword. CDK 02-11-2026

I agreed to give you my love not my peace You treated me like a princess til I said I do Then you changed, your kindness decreased. Our wedding night was tales of nightmares. Not full of love, romance or happy moments No it was one that let me know you didn’t care. Marriage license was like your ownership paper Now I am just property nothing more but less Romance seemed to disappear as a vapor. Seven long years I tried my best to please you I took beatings, cursing, abuse in many forms Never satisfied you tried to hurt the kids too. I stood in your way though and took their hits. Determined not to let you harm our children Kids are grown now and there alone you sit. I may have taken seven years of your abuse I enjoy my grandkids now. I love watching them The kids decided they wanted none of your ruse. CDK 2-9-26

The thing with egos Is you expected me to wait In your magician’s box, couldn’t wait To slide each sword in But I belong, finally, to a cleaner fate Without your hands, grenades To grip me in your own loss If I cracked you open like a lobster, Scooping out the meat I’d still try to bring you back to life Because now I’m the boss And you’ll cry out, you’ll pull your syncopal Rabbits from your top hat But I have grown the guts to reject you I know, you can’t believe that

Tired as though she's never slept a day in her life. scared if she falls asleep her dreams will trap her in the only hell shes ever known...home. Safety is a dream that she's wondered about her entire life. Holding back waves of anger she never chose this life. Doesn't matter if its wrong or right she cant give up, she must stand and fight. For what exactly she does not know its a feeling deep within her, taking on a form of its own. and it feels like the right thing to do this she knows. its been almost 30 years of knowing you I remembered I could rest assure in all you do but now your just this person taking up space in my life not that you try but even if you were its too little too late. -2

Sometimes when I close my eyes to rest It's dark but I still see colors then I think about the ones I've lost And how I should've been a better brother Now it's sad we started out so young Growing up without a mother Then they came to separate us So we didn't have each other Addiction took its place It routed deep And wasn't fair I was only 8 years old when I was pulling out my hair Now I've seen some things I can't unsee So as a kid I didn't talk Then they prescribed me up a bunch of pills Till I could barely walk Sticks and stones Cuts with broken bones But they could never get me to speak And every time I'd start to cry They'd yell and say I'm week Never fitting in at school so So I felt like such a freak With words that cut me to the bone Then that's when I would tweak Violence then would lead the way And Evil it will blind you Praying God please come and help somehow But He could didn't find the time In a world designed for me to fail I fell so far behind Realizing I was stuck in Hell There is no sense of time The years just seem to melt away And part of me was lost A little bit is all I need At such a heavy cost I wish that when I closed my eyes That I could disappear Addiction is insanity There goes another year It's sad I had to lose so much To finally see things clear And I'm taking out my ear plugs now So it's easier to hear But here's my problem You can have the answers And still not do it right Addiction is a war within It's not an easy fight And even though the sun is out I barely see the light I pray to shut the voices off so I can sleep at night I'm trying hard to stay in my lane And hold the wheel straight I know I want a better life I just hope it's not too late ©️ Stephen George 2023