I Must Go Poem by Collette Y Anderson Williams

My Darling,
my heart still grapples
to accept this.
And more so
to hear me
say it out loud.
But this time,
I know I must go.

I must go,
not only because
of the erratic ways
you have told me and shown me
you don't love me.
I know I must go
because I deserve better,
as I am so worth loving.
And even if I were to
tread the deep blues
or journey into the depths of space
to tell you how much I care,
to express the copious nature of my love,
still, my heart, you would continue to spurn.
So, I must go.

Perhaps it is
you know not what it is
to be truly loved,
to reciprocate,
so great an affection.
Loving is a choice.
Love is intentional;
it is a conscious decision.
But what hurts me most
is that you made that decision.
You decided to not love me.
Yes, it is for this reason
I know I must go.

But my darling,
if for any reason
I'm wrong,
if I have misread you,
if you love me,
and if you ask me to,
I will not go.
I will stay with you;
I will stay with you forever, my darling.

But if I'm right about you,
if you simply don't love me,
then I must go.
This time,
I must go.
I must go to allow my heart
to be utterly loved.
And more so,
I must go
because I love myself.
Yes, my Darling,
this time,
I must go, forever.