Afterwards Poem by Marilyn Shepperson

I had rehearsed what I would say
A hundred, thousand times
Yet knowing all the while
That I would lose in the end
So, once again I emerge
Mentally battered and bruised from the battle
But it was one that had to be fought
For my self pride and future salvation
Before I would always give in, give up
And let you savour your triumph
While I, as thee say, licked my wounds
But not now, not this time
This time you will ultimately lose
This time I will, I do walk away
And I did not look back