Mileage

This past year
has been one of discovery
a well so deep
from which I've nourished
cleansing me
from the hell you created
battle waging within my being
from the acid that was burning
me to the core
I have begun to mellow
at first a counterpart
a double being
resounding back and forth
without reason, withing meaning
then measuring each step
each yard I've gained
astounding myself
at the gentleness
one can learn from pain
placing myself juxtaposition
with the mileage I've gained
the comparison from then to now
is not the same
it's a bold, and bare faced fact
that girl who was
... is dead
and will not be back

09051977