Where You Left Me Poem by Elizabeth Shield

You abandoned me
In the quiet of my mind
In a forest of dark pines
And you called yourself my friend

Through the rushes lions prowled
In the shadows dread wolves howled
But all inside me was cowed
Because you were my best friend

This – a shell of me – you see
What’s inside has been broken
A thousand pearls that might have been
Have left their voice unspoken

Not a word of it you said
Your face a mask of solid stone
And I was grieving all alone
The vicious doubt no longer dead

The wolves are peering through the pines
And shining teeth the lions bare
At me whose tragic shattered mind
Can scarce the near comeuppance bear

Footsteps – all that I have walked
And thoughts that I have spoken
With you were left, you turned away
Your striding gait unbroken

We were best friends from childhood on
But gone are those young carefree days
Forgiveness I can grant you now
It’s not too late to change your ways

I can no longer feel the pain
The rain has drowned out all the growls
Your betrayal left a crimson stain
My mind with welcome numbness fills