You could have had me
any way you wanted
she said.
All terms
all conditions
were yours to define.
I was giving.
I was caring.
I was willing and able and
I might add
I was pretty
which I can say with all due modesty
since I am also
an excellent judge of beauty.

I was great for you
even when we were not great for each other
for I was considerate
and wise.
and I gave it all to you
but you were unwilling to take it.

You were unready
she said.
You were afraid.
You were not the man I hoped you were,
or thought you could be
with proper encouragement and enthusiasm.
You failed me.
You failed us.
You failed yourself.

You had it all,
she explained,
and you squandered it.
You wasted our potential
and for what?

I was silent in response
and every day
since she posed that question
I have been looking for an answer.
Will it come today?
She won’t tell me
for I have not heard from her since.