16 years

I thought it was important
To recognize
And celebrate
And embrace
The days and years we loved each other
As often as possible


I thought that the day at 19
When we said I love you
For the first breathtaking time
Was as worthy
As the day at 27
When we cried and said our version of I do


I thought you would learn
To value what was us
As much as I did
But it never came
And you mocked my sentimentality


I think I'm better off without you
Free now to create special days
To recognize
And celebrate
And embrace
The days and years I will love myself
As often as possible


I think someone else
Will want to share these with me
To build me up
Not to minimize me for their own gain