The Thief

The Thief

stealing
is a crime

there is
as much crime
in the theft
of an object
as in the theft
of another's
ability 
to trust
perhaps
even
the ability
to love
for
without trust
can there ever
be
love?

decades ago
he stole
from her
and betrayed
her trust

with that crime
he stole
perhaps
her ability
to ever love him
again

decades later
she still remembers
she still feels
that heartbreaking
betrayal

he tells her
"you need to get over it. 
that was a lifetime ago."

he tells her
"you need to get over it.
everybody makes mistakes."

he tells her
"i stole out of need.
can't you understand that?"

he tells her
"i feel sorry for you
for wallowing in the 
darkness
of 
the
past."

he tells her
"you're selfish
for only thinking about
your own
feelings."

he tells her many things
his only apology
the words
she wanted to hear
the words
necessary
for getting through
another day

words
covering his tracks
words
devoid
of empathy
for betraying her trust
because
today
he still
neither understands
nor cares
about the severity
of that wound

rather
he only cares
about preserving
his dignity
as someone
who's done
no wrong

he's served
no time
for any crime
having honed
the masterful
skill
of petty
thievery
the only skill
he owns
preserving it
like a precious stone
kept
in a safe

she brings up the past
not
to rub his nose
in his crime
like a dog 
that's pissed
on the rug

she digs it up
as evidence
that he still
can't accept
that he's ever 
done 
wrong

she still
brings it out
into the open
to see
if he's grown
yet
into a willingness
to atone
matured
into an acceptance
that he is flawed
just like
everybody 
else

she brings it out
knowing
if he can't own up
to the wrong
in something 
so unconditionally
wrong
as grand larceny
back then
there's no hope
for atonement
for all the smaller crimes
he's committing
today

she believes
if he can never 
atone
for the larceny
in their past
there's no hope
for atonement
for the pettier thefts
of the few dollars
and cents
he steals
today

she believes
he never learned
from that major crime
instead
the lesson:
it's easier
wiser
to steal
millions
in smaller increments
than one
lump
sum

this is the lesson:
not 
that thievery
is wrong
but it's easier
when the crimes
are petty
rather than
grand

pettier crimes
like the years
of dimes of
of blame
and quarters of denial
for a tormenting past
for her mistrust
for her feelings
of betrayal
for her lack
of love
placed
solely
upon 
her
list
of crimes