What Love Ain't

I've spent a fair
mou'na time watchin'
people profess'n
ta love one'uther
 
Iearned a few things
observ'n behaviah

but mostly I learned
what Love ain't:

hold'n on ta
someone who left
ya in tha past;

carry'n pretense
as a handbag
of makeup
to hide truth
behind a poor-
pitiful-me mask;

blam'n tha uther
for tha choices
ya willingly made;

stick'n ya hand
in'a fire, then cry'n
'bout blistah'd pain
.