Relationships are fascinating. I'm very open with mine. 

There's no pretense. I say how I feel. I tell exactly what I want. And I respect that -sometimes - the other person may not want that too.

In that case, I would rather part ways than ever ask someone to accept less than they desire.

I've discovered not everyone feels this way. The poem below was written in 2022 during a break up. I discovered that the person lied about everything. And then tried to convince me their lying was justified because they "didn't want to lose me".

In truth he just wanted what he wanted, and knew that I didn't want the same. He took away my right to choose for myself whether what his desires meshed with my own.

Integrity is a nonnegotiable for me. I don't believe in "white lies" or that there is a kindness in tell falsehoods. A relationship based on a lie is not a connection I am willing to entertain. 

What are your relationship values? Feel free to leave in the comments after reading my poem.

Sometimes I wonder if anyone out there thinks about the world the same way I do. 

Once upon a time, a sweetheart of mine nicknamed me "Alice". He said witnessing me in the world was like watching a character in a story step through the proverbial looking glass or fall down a rabbit hole.

That my perspective was so full of wonder and curiosity, that it made him worried I didn't see the world clearly with all it's ugliness too.

But I do see it clearly, I simply choose to emphasize it's beauty most of the time in the hopes of inspiring more.

Yet sometimes...I wonder...