Let you go

Holding on,
It was the most selfish thing I ever did;
I tried to say it was for you, me, the children,
But when I was honest with myself it was a lie.

I could not hold your love,
It was a creature that could not be contained;
I could not bound your heart,
It was a free spirit that was not meant to be tamed.

You taught me about the world,
The ways of the heart;
I was a foolish child when I first fell into your arms,
Unfortunately your lessons were hard-learned.

I would have died for you,
In fact, that's exactly what i did;
My soul turned to stone, devoid of life,
The grave held me for so long.

But I have one thing to relish,
One act that I can be proud;
When I began to see what had happened,
I found the courage to let you go.