"My Stuff" - Poem Inspired by the movie "For Colored Girls"

Did I let somebody take my STUFF??!!
Am I allowing you to steal my joy?
To steal my thoughts?
To steal the dreams and visions of fantasies of what love could be like?


Am I in a daily tug-of-war trying to retrieve back my warmth, my peace, my sanity, my hope... before it's gone?

Maybe I just foolishly gave my STUFF away?
And you just greedily, glutinously devoured my STUFF!! 


But I have to hold on to ME, so that I will have a ME to give one day!

These men with their issues are taking my STUFF!!
These damn bills are takin' my STUFF!!
This stress is taking my STUFF!!
This year!!...
Death & Loss!!...
Grieving!!...
Unemployment!!...
Facing each heartbroken day...

It's all taking my damn STUFF!!

But you know what?...
I can feel that it's also giving me stuff...

And I have a choice in what  STUFF I decide to take from it

Like...

Strength, or Depression

Solitude, or Family & Friends

Tears, or Laughter & Smiles

Defeat, or Victory & Overcoming

Dark Days, or Opened Eyes

Pity & Resentment, or A Lesson of Growth

I decide!!!

WE decide which ones we want to take!!

If someone tries to take my STUFF again, I'm taking something of gain right back!