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Poetry Friday: For Women Who Are Difficult to Love

DenaSeptember 27, 2013

Poetry Friday is a feature that I run once in awhile. A long time ago — before I was a mother, before I was a wife — I was a poet. Poetry was the thing that got me through many of my darkest hours. Once in awhile I like to share poems here, but only the poems that make my heart beat so hard that it feels like it will shatter out of my ribcage. Enjoy… if you’re into that sort of thing.

Click here to check out the other poems in the series.

livelovesimple.com

For Women Who Are Difficult to Love
by Warsan Shire

you are a horse running alone
and he tries to tame you
compares you to an impossible highway
to a burning house
says you are blinding him
that he could never leave you
forget you
want anything but you
you dizzy him, you are unbearable
every woman before or after you
is doused in your name
you fill his mouth
his teeth ache with memory of taste
his body just a long shadow seeking yours
but you are always too intense
frightening in the way you want him
unashamed and sacrificial
he tells you that no man can live up to the one who
lives in your head
and you tried to change didn’t you?
closed your mouth more
tried to be softer
prettier
less volatile, less awake
but even when sleeping you could feel
him travelling away from you in his dreams
so what did you want to do love
split his head open?
you can’t make homes out of human beings
someone should have already told you that
and if he wants to leave
then let him leave
you are terrifying
and strange and beautiful
something not everyone knows how to love.

* * *

Comments (8)

  • Crista Hebel

    September 27, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    One word: bravo.

    1. denabotbyl

      October 2, 2013 at 6:35 pm

      Glad you liked it, Crista.

  • Janice

    November 18, 2013 at 12:01 am

    Absolutely beautiful. thank you.

  • Nicole

    February 1, 2014 at 1:25 pm

    Just discovered your website…absolutely beautiful!!! I love your poetry posts. I find it so difficult to find blogs that I truly identify with, and yours is so refreshing and heartfelt.

    1. Dena

      February 13, 2020 at 7:43 am

      Thank you so much, Nicole. You are so kind! xo

  • Daniel Tworog

    February 12, 2020 at 10:00 pm

    After reading, a woman popped into my mind, should I send her this poem?

    1. Dena

      February 13, 2020 at 7:43 am

      I think so. Good luck. xx

  • Rachel

    July 7, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    I’m blown away! So moving and apt!

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