Coloured Existence

For too long I've let my past
have a bearing on how I act.

Too eager to part with my heart,
hoping to find an angel-fish
Among the sharks,
I never once wised up:
that's what was keeping me in the dark.

People used me-- men abused me,
one even threatened my life.
Until that point my only crime
was trying to be the handle
to his knife.

Now I understand my folly.
I need to love myself today,
to know I'm worthy of respect,
and not an object to neglect,
gathering dust on some man's shelf,
until he wants to play.

So from today I'm 'raising the bar',
to 'have me' means to love me.