I Never Lied.

I said exactly what I thought
I said what I felt and what I heard
I told truths so violently untrue
That I felt so sure I'd be heard and betrayed
But I never lied.

I gave you everything I knew
I gave up my fears and my hopes
I dreamed of what I wouldn't say
That I feared my hopes would vanish
But I never lied.

And you were a rogue
A spiteful hand, an untrained tongue
Words like venom stung my system
Words like fire froze my heart
And you saw it all.

I tried being all and nothing perfect
I tried to live and to breathe
I tried so hard.
I tried so, so hard.
I tried living by breathing
That hardest thing I've ever done
But I never lied.

And you were a rogue
A spiteful hand, an untrained tongue
Words like venom stung my system
Words like fire broke my heart
And you saw nothing.

And I wanted to be there
I wanted my love and my soul
I loved having a soul of my own
That I could bend at will
--And I bent it at will, at my own will--
But I never lied.

Manipulated my soul, maybe.
But confidently, now:
No, I never lied.