That Man

I do not love that man.

That man is weak

and a coward.

He is both ineffectual

and lacking empathy.

A flawed character, for sure.

I do not love that man.

Truthfully, I do not know

that man.

I awoke one day to

find him sharing my home.

Beating my dog and

yelling at my children.

I do not know that man.

He averts his eyes and

raises his voice.

Refuses to engage.

Unless it’s a whiskey rage.

Did he sneak in one night?

While I was fast asleep-

switch places with the man

I chose?

No. I fear- it’s more

oblique than that.

That man-

who shares my children’s eyes

(but not their hearts)

is no imposter.

It was I who “made-believed”

he was someone else.

The version in my head

swept

me away.

How lucky am I?

To have such a vivid imagination-

I can fall in love with the characters I

create?

This is not a talent to

be wasted.

Perhaps- I need to learn

to control the narrative first.

Before I go off and

break all my reader’s

hearts as well.