Losing While Loving

It was several seasons then that I lived in vain.
No one noticed my movements; no one knew my name.
Ilost myself amongst the nameless, faceless crowd.
I walked with my head down, no longer the proud.

To find love with him, I seemed to lose myself.
I placed him on a pedestal and placed me on the shelf.
From where I sat then, I felt more important than before.
As the dust settled on me, I seemed to love him much more.

Soon I was enshrouded by the facade of a good thing.
He just said the word, and I'd jump or better yet sing.
My life was all about him; I was an individual no more--
Was always "whatever he wants." Later, tears began to pour.

He found he'd had enough of the puppet act from me.
"I need a real woman," he said he began to see.
"Someone who can think and do on her own."
A different tune he carried after the $3,000 loan.

I gave; he took, and now he and I are through.
I'm now out of time, money, and love; what do I do?
I pick myself up, dust myself off, and learn how to heal.
Losing myself while loving someone was a great ordeal.

I must learn from it all, and forgive myself too.
I must realize that in a relationship, it takes two
To make it work, to make it last, to overcome it all.
Lest I make the same mistake and risk another fall.

I'm going to lift up my head now and start a new life.
I'm determined to shake off the stress and the strife.
I'm going to love myself first before I love anyone new.
I'll be sure to be careful that my next love is true!