The Divorce Poem by Maya Reid

Irreconcilable differences.
That’s the official term for this, right?
When we’ve realized we’re staying together
Just to stay together,
Staying together because it seems impossible
To go our separate ways,
Even though we don’t know one another anymore
And probably wouldn’t like one another very much if we did.
You’re not the same person you were
When we started this.
I can’t say that I am, either.
And I like this new me a hell of a lot better…
…I expect that you feel the same
But I don’t feel the same way about the new you,
Nor do you about me.
And we’d thought sheer stubbornness alone,
One of the few things we still have in common,
Could see us through this…
…But it’s just not working.
They say to leave well enough alone,
But what if well enough isn’t enough for me?
Someone has to say enough is enough.
Because yes, you make me happy,
But not nearly as often as you leave me frustrated,
Or as you enrage me…
Just about as much as you send me spiraling into depression.
So is an ocassional high worth all the lows?
…I didn’t think so.
So I already sent you the papers,
Said I wasn’t really sure…
…But included a pen.
And as I waited for you to do something
To either fight about it
(Like we do about everything else)
Or to join me in giving up all hope
And sign,
I thought of how empty it’s going to be,
This house that’s just brimming over with all our memories
Because regardless of what’s going on now,
You ARE my history.
Sometimes…
A lot of the time…
It seems like I just can’t live with you anymore,
But if the tears I just can’t stop crying mean anything,
It’s that all the time
I can’t live without you.
Is it too late to take it back?
To rip the papers up and
Go to counseling
Or just spend more time…
Anything to get to know one another again?
Because there’s something here I can’t let go of,
Something here that just won’t quit,
Even if I try to.
Love, I don’t think I want a divorce.