When I said I do,

I realized that I never told you

I don’t or I won’t.

You assumed that compliance--

Meant submission

So I silenced the voice within.

I became the puppet

And you became the puppeteer.

I  became the mime going through all the motions

Hoping that someone in the crowd

Would decipher the wordless emotions.

When I said I do,

I realized that I never told you

I don’t or I won’t.

How one little piece of paper

And the power of a man

To unite a man and woman

Could place an unforeseen size 7 collar

To bind my will!

As I feel the pinch of the collar

I succumb to your expectations of my life.

When I said I do,

I realized that I never told you

I don’t or I won’t.

But like an asthmatic

Who gasps for breath

Inhale…

Exhale…

Fighting to live,

I fight!

I fight for all my wilted dreams,

I fight for my children who witness no love,

I fight for me!

No longer will I be afraid:

Afraid of your meaningless words to hold me down;

Afraid of your meaningless attempts to hold me back;

Afraid of your meaningless anger to hold me hostage!

For I have anger too!

Anger at you,

Anger at your cowardly threats,

Anger at your attempt to beat me down!

But no longer will my tongue be silent;

No longer will my mind be controlled;

No longer will my life be not my own:

For I am now alive!

When I said I do

I realized that I can tell you~

I don’t and I won’t!   

 Copyright 2007. O. Maxwell.  All rights reserved.