You did not save me…

Instead you taught me how

To save myself.

You did not give me strength…

Your hand was simply

Holding mine

As I built my own.

You did not

Take away my sorrows,

You quietly taught me

How to heal myself of them.

You did not give me

Self Respect…

It has grown exponentially

From the esteem

You’ve shown me for merely

Being who I am.

You have taught me

How to love,

You have shown me

How to live

With heart and eyes

Wide Open.

~Shelly~