Please understand
I tried to free you
From your suffering
I really did

With every smile
Each apology for the things
You said I did
In every elaborate gift
That was never enough
In all the ways I tried to be
What I thought
You thought perfect was

I tried to love you
Into loving yourself

But it turns out
That’s not how it works

And ultimately
To be anything for you
I’d first have to save
The only life I could save

I’d have to learn
To love myself
The way I tried so hard
To love you

Unconditionally
And with all my heart and soul.