Abandoned

We used to work things out together but now an angry wind with rain blows in. If you were to honor all your promises, there would be a place in your life for me. But you have sent me away on my own to walk on a long slow road to the border. You eat and drink freely with your new wife, squandering what I helped you earn. When gathering turnips and radishes, you shouldn’t just pick the leaves. I have only raw and bitter vegetables in my bag, but to me they taste as sweet as revenge. I want to get far enough away from you to forget your stupidity and cruelty. I’ll lower my eyes again for you no more and will care for our children on my own. You won’t have the privilege of hurting me any more; I guess it’s good that your mind is elsewhere. I come from a family of resourceful people, people who can get across any river. When the water is shallow, we wade or swim; when it is deep, we take a boat. When things are scarce, we learn how to get by. We help each ourselves, then we help others. You can hate me, you can deny me what you owe me, but you won’t make me grovel. You are hurting only yourself, since now you won’t have me to take care of things. The way that you’re behaving shows how selfish and shallow you are.