The Anguish Of A Predator's Leftovers Poem by Gizmo Giovanazzi

My heart has known love twice before
A solid love that time endured
A patient love, glows safe & warm
A tender love, that gave no harm

There were friends I'd dated too
Kind, honorable, always true
Whose time together felt like play
We respect each other to this day

Twice however I'm brought low
Dealt some maliced heartfelt blows
Weathered lies and selfishness
Seen my children shock and tense

It's amazing what a man can do
In trying to love, or fleecing you
And how adept a heart can be
At facing each new trend blindly

But when you realize some are *bad*
It's hard to not feel hurt and sad
Not because you lost them then
But time they stole, equates to sin

You'll think of them with pity, shame
And stutter just to speak their name
To reconcile the broken hearted
Look back on the place he started

The price you put on hope and trust
Will falter some but will adjust
Forgiveness comes to you and to them
So the good ones can be sought again

Your friends will surely ask the truth
Of what came of the wrecks and you
And as you answer, they'll react
'Some slumming is a dating fact'

Don't squander yourself in helping them
Or trying too hard to understand
'A bully yields ends from the start'
Find the worthy, give your heart.

Your instincts will *often* be true
Yet sometimes you can play the fool
A good charade will send you spinning
Now grace a precious new beginning