You painted a picture of me so very white nPure as the treacherous ice that grew between us nAnd when I failed to live up to your zealous image nThe portrait you painted whiter than white nA shade too pale for me nThe brush slipped to reveal nA shade that was truly me nnYou needed more than I could have ever been nYou took more from me than I had to give nYou wanted more than I could ever have been nYou left me less than I have ever been nnAnd the all that I gave you was never enough nTo sate the possessiveness of your jealous soul nHailed as messiah nApotheosis beckoned nBut the sanctity of godhead didn't last long nIt turned to whipping-boy and then to pariah nLed on by devotion to my slaughter nnYou needed more than I could have ever been nYou took more from me than I had to give nYou wanted more than I could ever have been nYou left me less than I have ever been nnI gave you my love and kindness too nYou took it all and more nI'm down on my knees nBut what can I do? nBecause I still love you nnAn overbearing fear of imagined loss nBlinded you to the nature of my faithful soul nYou offered no life beyond your watchful gaze nLove was crushed as the walls closed in nAnd joy died with identical days nConfined in the prison of your own making n