The End, of the Greatest Good

The following poem is dedicated to my beloved city of Philadelphia. The city I became me in, during the four most important years of my life. Philadelphia breathed life into me, when before I was surviving on shallow breaths. It taught me more than just what I learned in University. It taught me about life, and loss, and love. It gave me friendships I’ll have forever, and memories that will always be in my heart. I couldn’t have asked for more. Philly, I love you.

You gave me a life, I didn’t know I was missing.
You breathed life into parts of me I didn’t know were existing.
You pumped knowledge into parts of me that had been walking unaware.
You explained to me life lessons that I’d go onto share.
You were gentle and forgiving.
You were helpful, and you were kind.
You gave second chances, and third warnings.
You open my eyes, and made me realize, I had previously been blind.
You laughed at my naivety.
You pushed me harder to explain.
Parts of life that I had never understood.
Parts of friendships that were never good.
You made me understand that if life could, it would.
That if it was time, I’d get it.
If it wasn’t I wasn’t meant for it.

That if I wasn’t meant for it.
Something better would come.
Something better would get done.
By me, and by us.
By life if I would just trust.


I learned to trust you.
I learned to love you.
I learned to adore the dirtiest corners of you.
I lusted after you.
I warmed to you.
I grew in you.
I became me for you.

You taught me to myself.
You gave me to myself.
You gave me more than I had ever imagined.

But all good things come to an end.
And you were the end, of the greatest good.