Expect me not to be there
when you need me the most.

Expect me not to empathise with you
when I can not appreciate your problems,
when you forget to be grateful
for the blessings bestowed upon you,
oblivious to true pains and miseries

all around you.

Expect me not to answer
when you call me out of boredom,
when you want to quarrel and I
retreat in silence,
when you feel lonely ’cause you don’t

suffice to yourself.

Expect me not to ever criticise you
but know that I’ll always be sincere and will not
hide my honest feelings, thoughts, and ideas,
refrain from telling you the truth,
I will keep discreetly pushing you forward,

to where you want to be.

Expect me not to throw myself on you
but know that I will never say no if you do.

Expect me not to love you, as most people
probably have I do not intend to burn my candle
over mind games, emotional blackmails I will not
adore you any less than I would a god, my god,
my lion, for my love can be intensely disarming

yet human, peaceful, unconditional, and boundless.

Expect me not to surrender to you, but if I do
expect to be inundated by sublime passion,
to feel the enthralling depths of pure sentiments,
the powers of the gods within you, feel divine,
embrace me and I will take you on an island

amidst the stars where neither space nor time exist.

[Featured painting: by Jack Vettriano]