It has been my intent
for many years not to play their game
and yet I see it is true that, while
I have given no credence to
the view that I am someone broken,
"needing help" or otherwise not fit
to exist, I failed to see at first
necessity to return the cards
they piled on me through all manner of
falsehood, trickery and vain deceit.

While I most surely would
have had a happier life had I done
what everyone advised me to do
(sue, go no contact, gain upper hand)
it was for two cycles of three long
decades my choice to hold my center
and stay but not play when they cruelly
projected their shadows onto me.
And, because I am strong, I believed

Taunts around a common table,
empty accusations and stacked
stories carefully orchestrated
coming from setups and circuses
with so many minions and monkeys
mattered not no matter what they said—
because I knew who I was, because
I knew beneath bad acts there was light,
I thought to remain unafraid of
such minor play to be better way.
I held their secrets in steady hand.

I refused to take the easy path
of shocking destruction, aftermath
that could have quickly unraveled all
their petty and primal acts. I held
my hand for I had more important
things to do, higher authority.
I do not regret my choice to stay,
to say we are alike and are held 
together by love beneath the pain.
And now I have in silence spoken

Long enough for truth to be seen clear
By those who have observed, done nothing;
by those who have acquiesed to threat;
by those who have repeated lies, held ties
and thus relinquished me to appease;
by those who fly in tiny, tight-knit
circles propped up with power they fail
to see is granted for allegiance
to agenda of dark tyranny.
I reclaim what's mine from wretched ruse,

Choose my final discard,
holding love all the same.