Abbi van den Berg (6 November 1980 / East London, South Africa)

Switch off the saccharine
because your sweetness
leaves me nauseated
and retching
clutching for a bucket
at the side of my bed

While your adoration
makes me reel drunkenly
stretching for a hold
on something solid

Because your words shimmer through
my fingers
like vapor

I can't be bothered to appreciate
your sentiment
because it is the sediment in my red wine

Leave me
burnt, bitter, black