i will never give you my joy
you cannot take pride in my achievements
i will never give you my smile
you have to feel the pain of losing it
i will never give you my voice
you will just try to sing over it
i will never give you my peace
it is wonderful the way it is
i will never give you my innocence
i truely want to stay that way
i will never give you my chastity
you will try to break it
i will never let you invade my privacy
all i need is my space
i will never give you my kisses
a kiss is not a kiss without love
i will never let you take away my freedom
i need to fly
i will never again lose my confidence
i just know "i can"
i will never depend on you
or lean on you or cling onto you
i will never dress for you
not for your pleasure, but mine
i will not live my life for you
you can live for yourself
i will never again lose my self-esteem
without you here to crush it
i will never let you take control over me no more
or take advantage of me just 'cause i'm "there"
i will never follow your orders
they do not run my life
i will never get down on my knees
or wrap myself around your feet, begging for forgiveness
i will never give you my love
for you do not love me in return
i will never break
your violent storms can do no harm
i will never be taken for granted
i am invaluable
i will never say "i need you"
because I truly don't

© copyright, 1997

poetry
1