Dear Turtledove Poem by Anisha Nyambe

I am tired of responsibility
and I'm sick of my vulnerability
to love.
Dear turtledove,
don't let me stay
on this dying earth.
Instead, let me die on the hearth.

This world of lies
it wearily dies.
It kills our souls
and empties our bowls.
Dear turtledove,
don't let me love
to break my heart
and tear my sorry self apart.

Let me die alone.
Let me fear my lone.
Let me say "I'm done
being your number one."

I'm tired of responsibility
and I'm sick of my vulnerability
to love
you turtledove.
Please let me fail
to no avail.
Please let me cry
before I die
and turn to soil.
Then my life, you can foil.

Dear turtledove,
hate me from above
and as the birds will sing
tell me mean things
so that I will remain
in your hidden disdain.

Please let me cry
before I die
and turn to sand
on a foreign land.

Dear turtledove,
teach me to hate love
like you
choose to
hate me
for me.

Let me run away
and in coffin lone I'll stay.
Never come to visit me
for your tears might release me
from death's cold embrace
bringing me closer to losing life's race.

Dear turtledove
the stars are above
looking down below
to us who will show
the prowess
of a poetess.

Dear turtledove
teach me to love
the death I seek
while being meek.