Worried so by watching the anguish
Telling myself I would not cause that pain
Such a complicated matter I couldn’t know
The tears would be a constant refrain
Manipulation learned ever so gradually
Perhaps once those tears were real
Along the way they discovering a method
Determining how to make others feel
Obviously twisted thinking
No perception of the hurt and hate
Generating tears for their own well-being
Lust for pity they can’t satiate
Their rude behavior creating anger
Those exposed coming to know the ways
Slowly running out of sympathy
Learning to seek better days
For your own survival remove yourself
No reason to endure what they create
Find your own peace avoiding drama
Until you have lived it you won’t relate
Lessons in life like a military battle drill
More than once the same story told
Experience has given you a manual
React as learned and the solution will unfold
JBentley-08Nov2023