“I’m sorry, I can’t.
You do understand,
Don’t you?”

Yet you are so rich,
And I so very hungry –
But still you would deny me
A crumb
To delay starvation.

“I understand.”

I will cut out
My heart
And eat that.

“You’ve changed.
You seem
So cold and indifferent
Now.”

I, being heartless,
Reply,
 
“I’m sorry, I can’t.
You do understand,
Don’t you?”
 
Clare Stewart
© 05 February 1982