Why Poem by DAVID TERRY

Why didn’t you love me?
I grew up in your shadow
Wanted to be like you
Modeled you, followed you
Shadowed you, allowed you
To define me
But it never seemed like it was enough
To make you love me

Why did you reject me?
I grew in another’s shadow
Following another sun
Trying to shine
Mimicked and copied that light
Learned from it, went beyond it
It defined me
And never seemed like it was enough
Because you rejected me

When didn’t you choose me?
When I walked out of the shadow
To become independent
Walk my path, made my way
Grew in faith, became a man
After I had been refined
And I still wasn’t good enough
Why didn’t you choose me?