She cheated me. She lied to me.
She made me look like a fool
with my new partners.
I’m a lawyer and had no contract
and hate myself for the oversight
but I had tried so hard to please her,
to show her how talented we are.

She took over the meeting, ignored
the group conscience, disdained it,
insisted on her way, left the room
in a huff when she didn’t get it.
Her vehemence was aimed at me,
her jealousy wanting to take over,
to be in charge though she never said
she’d take a service position.

She grates on my nerves like nobody can,
drives me crazy with her perfectionism,
her lies, her procrastination, her intentions
that fail to come to fruition. How can I deal
with someone like her? How, indeed,
since every single defect she has
I share.

It’s obvious she’s got problems, all kinds,
and maddening at that! She talks program
but does nothing of the sort, just causes problems,
refuses to act like a person in recovery,
like anyone who has hope, who tries,
who wants to become better. It seems
she has no function other than to be an irritant.
But it’s not the truth. My wise program friend
listens as I rant, hears me out then says
she does have a usefulness. She’s here
as my teacher.