There Is An Understanding To Be Claimed Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

There is an understanding to be claimed,
You say is now within your reach.
And you can comprehend how I've been feeling?
Making it okay for you now to speak to me.

I will pretend I didn't hear that.
Just because you are disappointed,
By the way your life has gone.
I don't share those sentiments.

Your perception of me,
And your thoughts that I do not acquire...
Material 'things' you can not touch or see,
Does not qualify you to understand my feelings.

However...
What from 'you' I do understand,
Is the feeling you possess of worthlessness.
Since your values have been re-evaluated.
I've never had those values to re-evaluate.
And you now believe you and I have something in common?
We don't.

There is an understanding to be claimed,
You say is now within your reach.
And you can comprehend how I've been feeling?
Don't fool yourself.
The standards I have set for myself,
Are extremely high.

And you?
You haven't sacrificed your beliefs,
To know those feelings others rejected...
With a disrespect.
There is much between you and I,
I could never accept.
Even if I tried.
I don't lie to myself.