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This is my masterpiece. It is dedication is known to those mentioned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Belonging"
Once, I belonged to myself,
A forever ago.

But then I met my Parents,
and they taught me,
and guided me,
and I was theirs,
heart and soul.

Then I met my Brothers and Sisters,
and we grew together,
like vines up the same tree,
and we loved one another,
and grew close.

Then I met my Friends,
and they helped me,
and I them,
and we knew one another
completely.

Then I met my Lover,
and we grew together,
intertwined,
like the twin trees
of Tristan and Isolde.

I once belonged to myself,
and walked my path in loneliness,
but somewhere along the way,
others joined me, and our hearts beat as one.

I once was alone,
but never again.

I learned many things,
and a few times,
my heart was spent.
A few times, the path ended,
And those times taught me to fly.
A few times my heart cried,
but not for me.

Now I walk with spirits,
in a realm that I didn't know existed,
in my Heart of Hearts,
and I used to grasp their hand,
but lately, they have grasped mine.

I don't belong to myself,
and I never want to again.

And though tears sparkle
brightly on my cheeks,
like diamonds in a desert,
that's okay by me.

I simply smile and say,
"Water is precious,
Fresh air is a luxury,
and Life is a treasure."

"This is the Lesson of the Desert.
I learned it from a Great Lion."

And though tears shine
brightly on my cheeks
like moonlight on snow,
that's okay by me.

I simple smile and say,
"Night is underrated,
Sleep should never be protested,
and Dreams should be cherished."

"This is the Lesson of Midnight.
I learned it from a Silver Soul."

And though tears glitter
on my cheeks,
like dawn's light on sandy beaches,
that's okay by me.

I simply smile and say,
"I don't mind the Roar of the wind,
or the Protests of the waves,
or Sacrifice.
After all, the Beach is more fun with friends."

"This is the Lesson of the Beach,
I learned it from the strongest woman I ever knew."

And though the child in me
smiles now only in memory,
I see him reflected in those
I pass the Lessons to.

The Code is nearly complete,
but I have a long way yet to go.

I wouldn't have it any other way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Valens

Very beautiful word imagery. The ending makes me feel like you lost something precious to you.

Demon,

You are reading the poem with your head. Read it with your heart.

And I suppose you are right, it may very well not be my masterpiece. But this means more to me than any of the others (sans Lover's Prayer) means. Still, every author knows when their time has come. And I, at least in this, is no exception.

It sounds forced because that is how the emotion came out. I very seldom change poetry after it is on the page. And all the changes are minor. I expected this to be...something of a final poem. Maybe I am biased. My heart is rather sore even this long afterwards.

Muse,

It is melancholy. It is meant to show loss, but it is meant to show joy beyond the tears, gain beyond the loss. This is not a beautiful poem. It is rough and unmanageable. And it is best this way--it needs to sound strangled. Under the circumstances, I'd say that I pulled off the perfect Farewell, if in heart-wrenching terms.

You might not fully grasp it because you don't know the people mentioned--at least, not how I know them.

But Demon doesn't have that excuse, and such a post was completely unnecessary. I don't mind criticism at all, but I do mind when the mood colors the critique. Such things are meant for poetry, not a remark on it.

Vale,
~Valens