Prescience
Had I known that the heart breaks slowly, dismantling itself into unrecognizable plots of misery, Had I known the heart would leak, slobbering its sap, with a vulgar visibility, into the dressed-up dining rooms of strangers, Had I known that solitude could stifle the breath, loosen the joint, and force the tongue against the palate, Had I known that loneliness could keloid, winding itself around the body in an ominous and beautiful cicatrix, Had I known, yet I would have loved you, your brash and insolent beauty, your heavy comedic face and knowledge of sweet delights, But from a distance. I would have left you whole and wholly for the delectation of those who wanted more and cared less.
Prescience - meaning Summary
Love Kept at Distance
The speaker imagines knowing in advance how love wounds: a heart that dismantles slowly, leaks into public life, and turns solitude into a scarring wound. Vivid bodily images map emotional harm and the persistence of longing. Despite this foresight the speaker admits they would still have loved the beloved, but from a safe remove — loving at a distance to preserve the beloved’s wholeness for others and avoid self-destruction.
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