Hell Is Other People Poem by Annie Cordelia Adams

how much i am like the ship
that sets its sail for the wind
to blow it into the eternity of the sea

(how much it kills
the saying: hell is other people
makes me your hell
how do you stand it?
the last thing on earth or heaven
or hell or land between i want to be
is a hell for you. i would suffer eternity
of hell to save your soul)

you stand at shore and
how i want and desire
beyond all things
beyond everything
to come back
but i cannot
i am in the blessed wind
oh cursed wind
and sick of letting the wind
blow me from you from
the shore.
i'd rather die than suffer
the Sea to seduce my soul
and pull me from you

(i love you and i don't
ever want to leave you.
you greet me in the morning
and and night your kiss is there.
i want to be greeted by it each
morning. and every second
be bound to your soul
and yours to mine
and each time the sun sets
believe that it will rise again
because i can feel your touch
and because i love you and
don't ever want to leave you)