We all have people in our lives who have been so negative and toxic with us that for our own safety and wellness we needed to distance ourselves from them. I never feel good about doing this, but I’ll admit that when I’ve cut the negativity from my life I am able to live more happily.
But while I had to move on from certain situations, I did so with love and would be willing to return to them in love. That’s the message of this poem. If I could reach out to them and get them to listen (and that’s the key in a toxic relationship, people aren’t listening or sober) I would let them know we could start over, right now… no baggage, no going back, but moving forward with love.
But in order for someone to want to do that, they’d have to be self-aware. We’d have to sit down and admit that we want things to be different and work for that goal, of a better relationship, of one where we they aren’t impaired or under the influence where we can both be real and just let the petty stuff go.
That’s the inspiration behind this poem. I hope that whoever it is you have this type of relationship with that these words inspire you.
You Should Know
You should know
that I love you
even now
after what you said and did
despite our short time together.
You should know
that I’ve forgiven us
you and me both
but I’m sad
over what we became.
You should know
that I’ve moved on
because I had to
but if you wanted to try again
I would.
© Cherie Burbach, “You Should Know,” My Soul Is From a Different Place, 2014
