I want
to be as
tender
and giving
as she is
I want
to be as
steadfast
and dependable
as he is
I must admit
these wants
must acknowledge
their glories
these people
who created me
whose bodies
brought life
to mine
whose minds
sometimes seem so
disconnected
from mine
I have always
been so quick
to look at them
with harsh
critique
older now,
I am learning
to ease my blaming
them for
my weakness
I am learning
to identify
them as
a source
of my strengths.