how often now does one let go?
to truly not care
to look the other way
and listen in the same
direction

I have given up many a time
knowing I have failed
or others have failed
me
or perhaps the cards
were drawn wrong
or
the bet just wasn’t
right

but whatever it is
I have always known
that failure is not
an option but cutting
loses is

I don’t want to fight
if there’s no way to
win

so I don’t fight

I don’t want to hurt
myself if someone’s
going to

so I go with someone
else

I don’t want to lose

so I quit

it’s backwards and strange
but it’s what I do

I give up
and enjoy

leaving looking back
for the weak and the
guilty