Those Tricks Played Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Strip away from yourself,
Those tricks played...
That have outdated themselves,
And only then we can agree...
Upon what is honest,
In this relationship.

Your elementary school tactics used,
Once believed hiding insecurities...
Are no longer needed to impress,
Your ego needing to be addressed.

If I can take years of your critique,
I am sure one self examination...
Done you do will clear the air,
Between you and me.

Strip away from yourself,
Those tricks played...
That have outdated themselves,
Without delay.
And only then we can agree...
Upon what is honest,
In this relationship.
Both us seem to believe,
Has a value left and worthy to keep.

'I 'guess' you are right!
We both seemed to have gotten older...
And to me it has seemed,
To have happened overnight.'

Well...
Those nights have been the longest ones,
I have ever known in my life.