When neglected, only then

 

 You who are loved — this is exactly what you do!
 When we wait, you make us weep,
 and when we turn away and flee,
 or battling daily sorrows kill this very self of ours,
 hurl this self far, far away, 
 that day you return again,...
 that day you come back again and say,
 'I want my person back!'
 You come and say, 'You've changed so much... how could you change like this!'
 As if all the blame for changing rests on you alone!
  
 Just as suddenly as you deny the relationship,
 in exactly the same way you declare, 'But I never left you!'
  
 You make toys of those who love you;
 and where you bleed day after day,
 wound upon wound leaves you torn,
 right there you beat your head against the wall until you die!
  
 In truth, love needs less love itself
 than the far greater need to... master the strength to neglect!
 Who knows — perhaps you learn love's worth only after being neglected!