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All Love Hurts

Updated: Aug 21, 2020

By Niharika Shah


a free-verse poem about finding solace in the darkest parts of love. 




Mama’s love hurts my nose

when she calls me a waste of time 

and breath

it hurts to swallow air.


Papa’s love hurts in the stomach

like it can’t contain the skin that shreds

when he catches me talking to a boy till late

who will never learn to stay.


Tuff’s love hurts all over my palms

the ends of my fingers that reminisce in

the shadows of his velvet soft ears.

They still search for him in empty closet shelves, 

on cold bathroom floors and promises made too quickly.


And then there is your love

that lights my chest on fire 

like I’m burning and you’re holding ice in your hands

but you slip it in cola and down it, for 

my smoke makes you sweat

and you have trouble breathing.


I’m drowning

and I can’t call for help because I know if you save me,

I will never try to swim again.


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