Even though I don’t want you after how deeply you hurt me, my heart still jumps a beat when I hear about you. Seeing you by chance rattles me for hours. Finding old pictures of us disturbs my sleep for days. I don’t want you but I still love you. I wish that would go away. L.M.

Fire runs through my body with the pain of loving you
Pain runs through my body with the fires of my love for you
Sickness wanders my body with my love for you
Pain like a boil about to burst with my love for you
Consumed by the fire with my love for you
I remember what you said to me
I am thinking of your love for me
I am torn by your love for me
Pain and more pain
Where are you going with my love?
I am told you will go from here
I am told you will leave me here
My body is numb with grief
Remember what i have said, my love
Good bye, my love, good bye.”
Recited by an anonymous Kwakiutl Indian
of Southern Alaska to a missionary in 1896