I knew it

I knew it when he chose 

to pick himself up and walk away 

to spend time with someone else;

I knew it then 

and it was clear as day 

I was in this world all by myself

November

in November

I reach for me

into the depths

of where I first wailed

and clenched my fists

kicked my legs

and gulped the strangled air

to become

a fighter

but mostly a lover

The Battle

He wielded his weapon

like a specialist

I responded with a stance of

a worthy opponent

But he played unfair,

He hid his best moves

while he pretended to dance

as my equal