When I learned to love

Pricks and pricks

of your bleeding lips

oh how you love me 

and tame me

dancing in your mind

move after move 

becoming nothing more 

than a whore-

you can't go out like that

that kept me safe

that I was only yours

they're a bad influence

but you shared yourself 

and wrecked me into a ball of spit and tears 

you didn't provide my needs as a man

you showed me love, showed me hate

and I saw no difference

stop with your shit

maybe I was blind

because of my bruised eye

but you didn't mean to be rough

see what you made me do? 

I shouldn't have gotten in the way

If I wanted love,

I had to earn it 

and you showed me how time after time

As I became your boredom

The bruises healed 

purple black became golden brown

Warm and cold are suddenly different

I grew and I grew beyond the muddy mess 

and I bloomed 

I bloomed and I loved

And love was not pain

love was not to obey

love was free

and you never loved me

    but

                That's okay, 

                                              I love me.