For a year begun in sadness

I met you on a Thursday
you were dancing in a hat
I thought it was a beret
we could not agree on that

you ground me on a park bench
I asked you to my place
you wouldn’t come the first time
but the next time you wore lace

I broke you in, you virgin
who got naked in the dark
with patience, skill and virtue
later you would break my heart

we weathered through the worst times
I’ve seen in my young life
when I look back you were awful
and you could have been my wife

you wanted seven-sixths the life
of every man you knew
I’ve only six, I gave you five
and that’s why you shot through

I failed so hard to please you
I should never compromise
you taught me I should cheat and lie
I call this getting wise

I know that you may read this
and I no longer care
the great revenge is living well
I win because I dare

it startles me to say this
you cut me like a knife
what started out with losing you
the best year of my life

Author: Ben Hourigan

Ben Hourigan is a novelist from Melbourne, Australia. His books Kiss Me, Genius Boy and My Generation’s Lament are Amazon category bestsellers, and are available wherever good books are sold online. Ben also works as an editor, copywriter, and self-publishing consultant at his own firm, Hourigan & Co. For news and book release updates, sign up to his email newsletter.