I used to hate men, I used to want them dead
for all the crimes they imposed upon women
for all the hurting, all the shame
that they created.

I used to hate love, I used to want it destroyed
because it never amounted to anything but
painful lies, missed phone calls, and a sorrow
deeper than the heart.

Back then, under the dull glow of a monitor
an ache hit my chest. I need something, someone
to blame for all the pain I felt. I needed anything
to keep me from falling into disarray.

The burden of growing up never gave my shoulders
any time to relax from the weight of the world
resting atop them. Instead I collapsed into
the earth, unaware of it all.

Like a phoenix, I've revived from the ashes of
old, dead hatred, alive and fully aware of past
mistakes. The old me did not die, but was
transformed anew.

I used to hate men, but now I've become one.
I used to hate love, but now my love's outnumber the stars.
I used to hate, but now... I hate no more.