the long list of lovers gone bye

when she asks

me about my former

relationships,

i sigh, then 

rattle off the list,

the narcissists,

the borderline, the psychopath,

the histrionic,

the Asperger,

the sociopath, 

the suicidal, the anorexic,

the liars

and cheaters,

manipulators.

and what about you,

she says,

do you have some part

in all of it?

backing her chair away

from the table,

me? yes, of course

i do. 

i'm empathetic

to a dangerous degree

and 

codependent, chasing

the love

of an absent father,

who was abusive and angry,

all of it still

unresolved,

but ancient history.