What follows is a poem I wrote following a breaking up.  The official breakup actually occurred a few months prior but he kept coming back to ‘talk’ and as a result, we’d always ‘just happened’ to become intimate.  It was my fault because I allowed it to happen—as many women tend to do in the aftermath of a breakup.  This poem reminds us to actively liberate ourselves from what we know to be an unhealthy situation.  Just let it go, bolder sisters. 

By reclaiming your heart you can (and will) reclaim your personal power. 

How I loved thee, let me find my way,
Out of the pain and loneliness I am feeling today
Although I have loved you, I love myself even more,
I had to take drastic measures to close this painful door
For me it was still love but for you it became just sex,
One day I looked into the mirror and saw there was almost nothing left
Of the woman I remembered who possessed an easy smile,
And whose love for life lit up her eyes for a thousand miles

What stared back instead was the shell of a hurting soul,
Who had no clue about which way she should go
I gave you a love that was not completely returned,
For if it had been, I would not feel a terrible yearning
To hear your voice and laugh or to feel your touch,
This yearning has now become my crippling crutch
And although it felt good to be in your arms again
It slowly stole from me the woman who was my best friend

She is not happy with me and will not come back
Until my feelings for you are packed in left forever in the past
I find myself again reflecting upon a lost love,
And trying to seek answers from the Lord above
I must now take what was good with us and cherish it for life,
And forget about the pain that used to cut me like a knife
When we first met I thought it was the power of fate,
Now we stand against each other on the borders of hate

Oh how I loved thee, let me find my way
So that I may grow and not repeat my mistakes
And allow my eyes to open and finally see,
And recognize the man who will be ready for me
I have no regrets that you were in my life,
My only regret is that we ended this in strife
In my heart you were the one for me,
But now I must face my own reality
I cannot be angry with you for how you feel,
Nor can I not ignore that I need a love that is real

How I did love thee, let me find my way,
To accept in my heart this road that is now paved
Though we may not see each other ever again,
I will bravely walk this path and release my anger and pain
One day reflecting on a lost love will cause me to smile,
Because through time and space our hearts will quietly reconcile
I know this is why I have chosen to set both of us free,
I need a man brave enough to handle the love that lives in me
Now as I reflect I can see that something had me fooled,
For in my heart of hearts, I thought that man was you

©2004 Kim R. Woods,
All rights reserved

BOLDER SISTERS, HOW DID YOU RECLAIM YOUR POWER FOLLOWING A BREAKUP?

Kim Woods earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems at DeVry University.  She developed a love for writing poetry and short stories as a child.  Kim is socially conscience and her desire to use her life experiences to help others is what drives her to seek opportunities to share her story.  She decided to write freelance for the Bolder Sister because it is her desire that women evolve and thrive in their own authentic truth.

Kim resides in Chicago, Illinois and has one son, Donald.  In addition to writing, she spends free time creating unique wall art, decorating, and teaching herself how to sculpture.