The Late News ~ Merrit Malloy

No, clearly I have been the jerk . . .
To think that I could leave myself on pages
And not be crumpled up
and thrown away . . .

I will go away
But not with him
And I leave not because I didn't love you
But . . . because I did . . .
Because I did

If there is a competition here of sadness
or rightness
or who has been the most understood
I concede . . .
because I find it hard to explain my life any longer
I'm tired . . .
And perhaps . . . I have always been wrong

So . . .with only compassion for both of us
Some charity
No more faith. . .or hope
I give up to my weakness
I let it take me
It will not forgive me
And . . .neither will you

Think only of yourself now
of the injustice
because
I am a stranger again
A prisoner of freedom
A hitchhiker . . .

I'll pray for you
. . .for us

And with useless love
I will say unwillingly
Finally
Good-bye