tonight i explained to a child
why my lover let me go.
he told me he never loved me
because if he had, he would have stayed.
i explained to him that love is
giving up your entire universe,
even exposing your soul to a black hole,
to make their lives better.
i had to turn away a sobbing angel
on my doorstep to remove him from
my toxicity.
i begged a god to come back down to earth for an hour
only to realize he would be happier among the stars
than among the sheep.
you give up love to improve the life of the one you love.
i still drive down the same paths the angel flew down
and i still play the harp the god left me
love is selfless and beautiful
but it is painful and
you must be strong.

*(r.e.)