"You taught me to love"

“You taught me to love”
You wrote
The unworthy object
Of your affection
Escaping
Ardent pursuit!

“You taught me to love”
You wrote
So I denied
Any “we”
Making the “you” and the “me”
Important in the then

“You taught me to love”
You wrote
Love has been so narrowed
Romance and thrill
Tried to make a simpler
Deeper something
That would last


“You taught me to love”
You wrote
Younger but older
Aware “I love you”
Shackles more than ties
Heartless
Unable to see
Simple feeling
Get hurt.

“You taught me to love”
You wrote
Re-reading I smile
You ran away
“It cannot be”
Taking away
What was.

“You taught me to love”
You wrote
I was a bad teacher.