hard rain

sometimes a hard rain
like a flood of tears
will clean out
the debris
that has been floating here
the things that though we try
to make them work
get worse
from trying too hard
to keep them above the tide line
and on the shore
but they are drowning
of their own accord
and though i would like to save you
this time you have to save yourself
because of times i can't be there
to explain why
you don't know how
to treat people with respect

sometimes a hard rain
washes out
the things that stuck there
much too long
that weighed me down
the crying works
when all else fails
to make much sense
why
when i treat you
with respect
i am the one
you hurt the most
expect that sorry
makes it ok
well it doesn't anymore

sometimes the hard rain
sends the silt down river
all that wonderful potential
in you
washed to somewhere else
my hope is that you
find a way you can
respect yourself
and move to treat those better
than you have treated me
i was the learning curve
the current rushed around
the bend that led the tide
to right itself