If I Can Learn A Few Lessons So Can You Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

You did not ruin my life,
By proving to me you can ruin yours.
Nor do you get from me any sympathy.
My empathy years ago you ignored.
And I have no desire to explore your destitution.
Or offer solutions with advice.
Why? And for what reasons?
Hmmm?

Remember you once told me I was 'nuthin'?
While you strolled passed me wearing spit shined shoes.
And smelling nice.
Like the atmosphere was cologned?

And sporting the latest fashions...
As you supported materialism as your way of life.
And you satisfied that appetite very well.
I remember you then and saying with laughter...
'People like you aren't worth the time spent in hell! '
And look at you now...
Trying to convince me of that!

You did not ruin my life,
By proving to me you can ruin yours.
Nor do you get from me any sympathy.
Not the way you applied your indignities,
At the expense of my integrity.

My empathy years ago you ignored.
And I have no desire to explore your destitution.
Or offer solutions with advice.
You caught me in a bad mood.
And I am not about to mask it to play nice!

No!
Don't try attempts to leech,
Upon my good graces.

If I can learn a few lessons,
So can you!
And you look as if you are learning one right now!