Don’t Tell Me to Unlove You

Don’t tell me what to do

How to help you

Or show my love to you.

Don’t tell me to go

When you know I don’t want to.

When I see you down

Lying on the floor,

Trapped by heavy steels

And unable to rise,

Don’t tell me to walk away.

You can curse me all you want.

Curse me until you’re hoarse.

Curse me until you lose

Your breath that I am

Trying to salvage from

This wreckage.

But don’t expect me to go.

I may hurt myself trying

To find ways to save you.

But love, I will still try.

And I will succeed.

You won’t be down for long.

Even if you hate it,

I will rescue you.

Even if no one else helps

As we try to survive the fire,

And the burning melts around.

As my hands stumble on 

Makeshift levers on the ground,

This I vow: You will survive.

I have no intentions to die.

No. I am no masochist.

No. I don’t want pain.

But I will brave this,

I will be brave for both of us

Until we both get out of here.

So yell some more.

Be angry with me

For staying—and forcing you

To stand up and move.

I don’t care.

Don’t tell me what to do

Because I can’t unlove you.

- RM

Calm Down, Dear Heart

I am here to take your fright
Of being abandoned
Of being betrayed
Of being the object
Of squandered promise of
Fidelity.


Calm down, little bird.
Let me charm your
Frozen heart, warm it
Up with cuddle and
Delights. Let me
Care for you.
Be soft in my arms
For I’ll protect you
Tonight.


Are you not tired?
Of taking yourself
So stiffly. So afraid;
That if you bend, you
Will lose your sanity.
Stay by my side
Walk by me.
Let me take your burdens
Completely.


Do you feel safe
Now? Here besides me.
I care not if your hair
Flies madly with the wind;
Or that your brows wrinkle
As you think about things
So seriously.
Take my hand, sweet.
Take my heart.
Here, in my hand;
I pledge my beating heart.
It’s yours, dear heart.


Let me soothe your fears
And climb your walls
Of brittle heartbreaks.
I’ll take care of you, my sweet.
Keep your cold feet warm
Even in Winter’s feast.
Let my arms protect you
From your memories.
My shoulders are big
To carry you, my dear.

- RM
03/25/20