Poetry: ‘You Don’t Have To’ by Dasha Kostkina

No pres­sure,

You don’t have to love me

For the time spent

Now not sure,

Spent or wasted.

As his­tory repeats itself

I hope that you can taste it.

Life was like a race,

If you could trace my day:

Away to school,

Then teach a class or two,

then change

and look­ing badass

away to your place,

So we can spend some time togeth­er, remember?

But you don’t have to love me.

You don’t have to love me

For the rooftop talks we had.

I was there,

When you were mad with yourself

for doing nothing

but busk­ing,

and rearran­ging your room

Every fuck­ing week.

Boy, I was weak

And I blame myself for saying

It was okay

And that I love you anyway.

You were aware of that

And you repeat your­self again:

Say things we both know

Are not true,

Make prom­ises

We both know

You won’t do.

It’s cool thought,

You don’t have to love me.

You don’t have to love me

For let­ting you to take my top off

And see­ing the ugly wound from our first break off.

I thought it might  pop off

Some kind of phys­ic­al connection

Then men­tal,

Then cer­tain type of spir­itu­al relationship.

But maybe it was just the rhythm of my hips

And pla­cing kisses upon my lips

That you wanted

And noth­ing more,

But ignore that,

You don’t have to love me.

You don’t have to love me

For wear­ing out my hope and patience.

Remem­ber: boxes,

Pack­ing,

Left with no place to go,

Betrayed,

But still prayed

For you,

For us

And was wait­ing for your remorse,

so you can be mine

And I can be yours

Even­tu­ally…

Equally…

On the same page.

Got into the same cage

Third time,

When you came cry­ing about being serious.

Fear­lessly for­got being stabbed on the back

And fol­lowed your sweat chat

And morn­ing kisses on the neck,

But you wrecked it.

And now you intend

To be just a friend

You think you won,

Cuz I needed you

Cuz I’ve  nev­er met the spir­it quite like you

Cuz I’m play­ing a fool

It’s cool

Just call me beautiful

No pres­sure.…

By Dasha

insta: @spacevagabond
face­book: https://www.facebook.com/dasha.kostskina

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Rishma

Edit­or / PR Con­sult­ant at No Bounds
Rishma Dhali­w­al has extens­ive exper­i­ence study­ing and work­ing in the music and media industry. Hav­ing writ­ten a thes­is on how Hip Hop acts as a social move­ment, she has spent years research­ing and con­nect­ing with artists who use the art form as a tool for bring­ing a voice to the voiceless.

About Rishma

Rishma Dhaliwal has extensive experience studying and working in the music and media industry. Having written a thesis on how Hip Hop acts as a social movement, she has spent years researching and connecting with artists who use the art form as a tool for bringing a voice to the voiceless.