Villanelle

My friend and dearest, I cannot believe
as you request; we are condemned this day
to unrelenting sacrifice of love.

My heart rebels and snaps “Get up and leave!
I love the truth!” and though I’d like to stay,
my friend and dearest, I cannot believe.

I barely know how best to be alive,
untied from you. My self begins to fray
- an unrelenting sacrifice of love.

But even now, it does no good to slave
at changing what I am, and though I pray,
my friend and dearest, I cannot believe.

And, strand by strand, I find new ways to live
and life in its variety will play
on, unrelenting: sacrificing love.

It’s not enough to fit like hand and glove.
That fate could strike us at the heel this way!
My friend and dearest, I cannot believe
this unrelenting sacrifice of love.