Never

I
never want to hear from
you.

or see you
ever again in
my life

harsh
he thought

that
a drunken 3am call
could provoke such
hate

And she said it
over the phone too.

he was not saddened
that she had extinguished
whatever they had

now
older
he imagined how
he could cause
so much
hate

in one exquisite
form

did she mean
forever

eternity is a long time
after all

how would that work
if they ran into
each other

what do you say
to all that hate

over dinner
one evening
he found out

spotted her across the room
was able to luxuriate in
the knowledge that she hadn't
see him
yet

years had not withered
her hate
it made him laugh
to see her
eat a meal one
handed
with the other
shielding her
from his gaze

such hate is wonderous
to behold
it must have a
life force
to survive
so many years

she must feed it
love it
nurture it
keep it alive
beyond others
that she surely
hated too

Is it better to be remembered
through hate
rather than through love
lost hate or lost love

he could only smile
sit back
and order his dessert