No Longer Mine

by Teresa Preziosi

Once you said:

you are mine.

&

you expected me to protect you.

We were tethered in intent.

But when I embarrassed you,

you cut me loose.

I sank, bottomed out,

Sulked, hidden, forgotten.

I ignored the world and it me.

And in those cocooning years

I had time to let the cleansing waters in.

Diffuse my explosive nature, relax my hostile grip.

Transformed, I emerged into the world of sun, calm,

grounded, harmless. Yet, I stand out – catch the eyes

of passers-by, draw them to me, let my scars reveal

I remain a frightening curiosity.