The State I'm Living In

the audacity of calling me
to ask how I am
the capacity you have for telling me
that if I put my mind to it then I can
when it was a simple, post-marked letter
you dropped one morning in the mail
as easy as finding a stamp
and sending us a fond farewell
the ferocity of the big bad wolf
disguised as a little lamb
the monstrosity of how easily you said to me
you certainly hoped i’d understand
and it was a simple, foolish attempt
at getting me to see the light
as easy as kissing my cheek
then telling me goodnight
the generosity of you telling me
I wasn’t just an also-ran
is tempered by the animosity that I feel
when I realize I was just your back-up plan
these are the cities
these are the cities
and this is the state
I’m living in
the curiosity of you telling me
I’d always be your best friend
and the tenacity required of me
to grit my teeth and let go of your hand
these are the cities
these are the cities
and this is the state
I’m living in