I Cling No More Poem by Leria Hawkins

I have arrived…
And I say with some relief
That I do not mourn for you
Or begrudge who you are
You see….I have simply…accepted

I suppose I have hardened my heart
And closed the door
I do not care that you have failed to know me
As my life will surely go on
I am not trapped…or fooled

I am okay with who I am
I have chewed and digested
The marrow of my being
I have tasted the sweet sunrise
And swallowed the bitter rain

I do not grieve or ache
I have given up the absurdity
The lullabies of my yearning
Sing on in fine flavors
Echoing softly on the canvas of my dreams

The fire of my passion
Burns on….alive and strong
My fury does not belong to you
And I do not have to forfeit
Or extinguish the flames

You recoiled from my songs
Forsaking the whispers of my soul
And you feared my fire
But it is my essence...
And the nature of who I am

I stand in the middle of this road
Unafraid of what lies ahead
I am freed of the ambiguities
Resolved to live as you live
And cling no more to false promise