One Thousand and One Ways

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A love poem inspired by Suzan Lovett’s “The Thousandth Man.”

 

If you’ve never read “The Thousandth Man” by Suzan Lovett, don’t read this poem if you don’t want to be spoiled.

Go and read “The Thousandth Man” instead.

But first, make sure you have a lot of tissues.

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1,001 times I wanted to die:

1 when I watched you struggle with heroin addiction

2 when you sobbed over Gillian’s body

3 when I had to tell you why she was killed

4 when I heard that a hit man might have already gotten to you

5 when I saw you struggling for breath

6 when I knew you were dying of botulism and I couldn’t find you

7 when I thought the car explosion had killed you

8 when you betrayed me with Kira and broke my heart after

9 when you told me to leave and never come back

10-1,001 every day without you as my partner

 

1,001 times I loved you:

1 when you ate my food without asking and shared your coffee and beer with me

2 when you patted my stomach

3 when you looked at me that way

4 when you trusted me no matter what

5 when you felt safe enough with me to vent your frustrations

6 when you confided in me that you were scared

7 when you comforted me, and you let me comfort you

8 when you broke my heart

9 when you told me to leave and never come back

10-1,001 every moment of my life

1,001 times I hated myself:

1-1,001 every time i broke your heart

1,001 times I was grateful you didn’t listen to me:

1-1,001 every time I pushed you away

1,001 times I loved you:

1-1,001 every moment of my life