My Own Personal Adversary
I remember you
You were like my own personal adversary
Staying close to me like a cell phone
That came with a lifetime contract and automatic renewal
And seemingly unlimited minutes of torment so that not even my weekends were free
You followed me around—from play, to school, to work and back home again
Sometimes you were there even when you were not
You were the same
Only your skin, your soul, and your manifestations of darkness changed from time to time and place to place
But I will kill you…with kindness
And I will feed you on the streets
If you throw eggs at my house I will collect them and make you breakfast (unless you are vegan)
Nevertheless, you will not walk away from me empty
I will radiate love and watch your hatred melt like chocolate on a hot day so it can no longer be within your grasp
I will be to you what I would have had you be to me
And I will do these things lest I become like what you were—and be my own worst enemy
© 2007 J. Marshall