Tethered By Hope

By Rida Sayyed

Maybe I’m not built for love.

maybe I’m just built for loving.

Maybe the rope is rough.

maybe I’m just weak.

But trust me—

if I knew we’d have an end together,

where you and I are in a garden

full of roses and bloomed flowers,

with sandwiches and juice

on the picnic table,

I would have never let go

of that rope,

the only string of hope.

You were the best to love

but the worst to know

you’d never love me back.

You were the best to admire

but the worst to know

you’d never see me as one.

You were the best to talk to

but the worst to know

you’d never talk to me first.

And I couldn’t take it anymore.

I had to let you go.

I saw you foremost among them all,

but you gave me a disgusted look,

making me feel like dust,

and I knew it was enough.

I could imagine how withered

the flowers had become,

the faded colour of roses,

sandwiches rotting,

juice teeming with bugs.

Now my hands are burning,

bruised from holding onto hope,

and I had to let it go.

It was rough.

it would have dragged me away,

strong enough to bruise me,

to scar me—a mark

I’ll never forget.

I’m sorry I’m giving up on you,

but I have to,

because I know I could never reach you.

By Rida Sayyed