For women who are difficult to love

by Warsan Shire

“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”