Jei Li Poem by Melissa Joy Chesky

If this is how it must go –
How it must be written,
I will follow accordingly.

I will cry
Yes, I will cry
But, for you, only one tear will be shed
It’s all yours
Only shed on your behalf.

It will be a good one
This one’s just for you, Jei Li.

But—only one
Only one I can handle
Only one piece I can rip from my being
And give to you
For you to have
For you carry.

And then—
I will ne’er shed more
Ne’ermore see a glisten in my eye
Of your presence
Of your infliction.

Emotions hid for the best
You will not hear your name from my lips
Not in my voice
Certainly not an echo in my heart.

But most surprising
You’re the successful heartbreak
You hurt more than the blade
No—not the glint on wrist—
The blade the boy holds
He foolishly, foolishly wields.

I love you…
Still.


I’m sorry
This is how it must be written.