Ode

I know you
We met on the subway once
You had flowers in your hand
Some pickpocket took your money
And knocked the flowers away
They landed near me, and I brought them back to you
Much obliged to him for bringing us together

I know you
You said something terrible to me once
We were sitting on the dock, lovers hand in hand
Sobriety was an admitted weakness
And you told me you thought I had one too many of those
But you kissed me all the same, and I forgave
Much obliged to you for teaching me the value of letting go

I know you
You hurt me once
I had told you in the beginning what horrors lay veiled in the psyche of my childhood
What insecurities were buried deep in my heart
I simply forgot once, and with your words you destroyed what little haven I had
Damn near killed me, and I cried, but so did you
Much obliged to my abusive fellow humans for showing me how to endure your worst

I know you
You left me once
But this was different
You'd left once before, but I knew you were still there
There had become nowhere
And I had nowhere to turn, to run, but inward, and in a sense, upward to you
Much obliged to whatever perpetuates this world, for showing me just how valuable one moment can be.