I Can Do Without Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

What can you give me?
My grandparents?
I doubt it.
My parents?
I'm sure you can not.
My son?
Forget it.
My friends who were murdered?
I can't discuss it.
Can you give me back my two ex-wives?
Or that love from them I 'thought' I had?
They gave that back to me.
Or my youth?
I just through that in,
Because I know that's impossible.

You can not give to me your integrity.
You have already shown you don't have that!

What can you give me?
For what price would I have to pay?
And...
I am not for sell.
You've already attempted to play me cheap.

And what you have sold to others,
I don't want to be a part of.
That's for them to keep.
And discreetly if they wish.

That's why I couldn't accept from you anything!
You have already shown...
That which you have to offer...
I can do without.
I seek nothing that is worthless to me.
I have had my rewards and prizes in my life.
And those that still remain treasured...
I make sure to them I keep that known!

Even if you bragged you had an extra million dollars,
To throw away to impress.
I would tell you to do that.
Since from you...
What you and I have had,
Has already been addressed.
And I know...
You can't give to me anything.