The Un-Loving of You

 by Kate Van Raden

I’m letting you go,

I’m giving you back,

Each bit of your self that I’ve kept…

I returned those eye brows,

and a few of your teeth,

I packed them and hummed as I wept…

I shipped off your thighs in a box with some fingers,

the larger ones only, for now…

When you asked for your shoulders

I blinked back a frown,

But I let you take them,

And some lashes I’d found.

Now, the chuckle was harder,

I was still using that

And without your soft hair,

I just can’t hang my hat

But I do understand that you need these things back

So I try to be gracious, although it’s an act.

The hard part is coming

And I know I’ll feel lost

with no way to smell,

Or to taste, or to talk…

See, I cherish your lips

still so familiar,

and your eyes that melt chocolate for me…

There’s a crook in your nose

that it’s not yours without,

and I’m starting to feel a bit empty…

At last to my treasures

high on a shelf…

to your voice and your skin and your hands,

I hoped I could keep these forever,

but your starting to list your demands…

I can’t bear to imagine the woman who gets these,

I break down each time at the thought.

They’ve been mine for so long,

I just couldn’t tell you

how I’ll go on when they’re not…

Almost nothing is left here

You’ve taken it all

so we’ve parted, I get it, I’ll go…

but I wonder if I could compel you

the compassion to leave me a toe…?

http://katevanraden.wordpress.com/