So I Wrote You a Poem

<p><br></p><p>In January 2021 Instagram followers were invited to message author David Tensen with a life story they wanted made into a poem. More than 60 people wrote in with stories spanning divorce loss trauma parenting ableism same-sex attraction suicide PTSD parenting religious shame and more.</p><p><br></p><p>Drawing from deep empathy and with a desire to give dignity and voice to those often shamed and ostracised David wrote a collection of poems every day for twenty-one days. This special collection of 25 poems is a tribute to the common loss and hope we all share.</p><p><br></p><p>This is David's second poetry collection.   His best-selling debut 2020 collection 'The Wrestle' is also available worldwide</p><p><br></p><p>The following is a poem from the collection. It features in the chapter  'On Marriage':</p><p><br></p><p><em>FOR THE ONE WHO WAS BETRAYED</em></p><p><em>(To the betrayer)</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>There is a tree by our home</em></p><p><em>that fell in a storm</em></p><p><em>on the path</em></p><p><em>I walked to belonging.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>I assumed this was our path</em></p><p><em>and perhaps it was</em></p><p><em>but the storm -</em></p><p><em>that was your betrayal.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Torn from the earth.</em></p><p><em>Branches broken.</em></p><p><em>Leaves strewn like confetti</em></p><p><em>on our wedding day.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Roots now exposed</em></p><p><em>shamefully waving at passers-by</em></p><p><em>remind me</em></p><p><em>of what was sown in secret.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Trunk now splintered</em></p><p><em>piercing those who dare to pry</em></p><p><em>remind me</em></p><p><em>of your unrepentant reasoning.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>I've been tempted</em></p><p><em>more than once</em></p><p><em>to nest in the wreckage</em></p><p><em>but you won't find me there.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Instead I'll be in the forest</em></p><p><em>forging new paths</em></p><p><em>through forgiveness</em></p><p><em>and a fog of grief</em></p><p><em>vowing to love myself</em></p><p><em>more than you ever did.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>David Tensen </em></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>