Bad Friends

Bad friends are draining,

And their actions were spraining.

As a child I gave them everything,

And was left with nothing but a constant sting.

I always relied on the wholeness of others,

Only to find out that they were not my brothers.

I constantly said “yes” to all their decisions,

And the pain just left me with incisions.

Without their manipulations I would have never learned,

Instead I sought salvation and refused to be burned.

I stumbled upon a realization that I indeed deserved better,

So I begged “release me from your hurtful fetter”.

I turned and screamed “no more” toward their vices,

And was left to strive for my own personal sacrifices.

I found my own strength within,

And no longer let the darkness win.

So how did I get this self-acquired glow?

I simply encouraged myself to grow.