A Sea of Empty Lies: Learning to Let Go of What Sinks You

Powerful ocean waves crash against dark, rugged cliffs under a misty, overcast sky. The churning sea is full of movement, with white foam and spray rising from the deep blue-gray water, creating a dramatic and moody coastal scene.
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Today, I'm sharing something a little different, a poem I wrote that explores the quiet, painful unraveling when love becomes toxic. It's about the tangles emotions of falling for someone who can't truly love themselves, and how that love slowly pulls you under.

Writing this poem helped me process that experience and reflect on the complicated dance between devotion and self-preservation. I hope this helps anyone who's ever found themselves caught in a similar storm.

Author’s Note

This poem is not about revenge or bitterness.
It’s about letting go of the wreckage and walking away from the weight.

A Sea of Empty Lies

I sigh,
against a sea of empty lies,
lapping at my edges,
never soft,
never still.
Each wave a restless routine, 
clockwork pressure tapping at my ribs,
tap, tap, tap
like a pulse I can't slow down,
like panic pacing beneath my skin.

We were never meant to catch feelings.
But here we are,
both drowning,
both pretending we can swim
with salt in our lungs.
I knew the tide was rising.
I stayed anyway.

You beg.
You plead.
Your voice—
smoke from a fire
you keep feeding.
The house is ash.
Still you strike the match.

Humiliation clings to your voice,
riding the breath
like moths that follow flame,
knowing the end,
but flying all the same.

You love my laugh,
but somehow I'm still the joke.
A carnival mirror you keep breaking,
just to watch the cracks
and call it love.
And me?
I kept picking up the shards.

You once said,
“Your eyes are the color of a fierce storm,
hiding the light of your soul.”
Maybe you’re scared of what happens
when the clouds split open.
Perhaps the sun unsettles the liar.
It shines only when waters are still.
And stillness
requires no monsters below.

You call me goddess.
You call me queen.
But your crowns are made of wax,
they melt in the heat of the next body you worship.

The weight of your worship?
Crushing.
Your love is a trap you set for yourself
and dragged me into.

To the end of the world,” you said.
“You and me. Forever.”
Was the end of the block too far?
My door stayed shut.
Your honesty?
It took a wrong turn,
wandered off into traffic,
never came back.

I hate myself for loving you.”
Maybe.
But you can’t love yourself,
and I won't carry your wreckage.

Reflection: Letting Go and the Spiritual Journey

Sometimes, the hardest part of love is knowing when to let go. Holding on to someone or something that damages us only weighs down our spirit and clouds our path.

Letting Go isn't a failure or defeat, it's an act of courage and self-respect. It opens space for healing, growth, and a deeper connection with ourselves. On our spiritual journey, releasing toxic ties clears the way for light, stillness, and true peace to enter.

If this poem speaks to you, may it be a quiet reminder that you deserve love that nourishes, not erodes. And that sometimes, the bravest love is the love we give ourselves by choosing to walk away.

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