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This comment means the world to me! I've been struggling with writing a lot recently and having the motivation to write even though it is my passion. I greatly appreciate your criticism and your feedback! You are correct that this poem was inspired by a past experience that I have struggled sharing with people in the past and your acknowledgement of that means a lot. Again thank you so much for your feedback!

It’s clear this poem is based off an intensely personal experience; please take my critique with as many grains of salt as you need to.
I think the poem would be stronger without the first two lines and if the rest of the first stanza was swapped with the second. With your title, you’ve already communicated to the reader that you’re attempting to define love; asking the question “Do think that this is love?” seems a bit redundant (at this point). Opening with second stanza would communicate a lot faster that the speaker is attempting to define love is because they’ve been operating with a definition provided by an abuser. “You’ve ripped my lungs from my chest” is more visceral to me as an opening line. “Do you think that this is love?” could be moved to the last stanza with the other questions the speaker is asking (though I’m not sure if that line would really fit in that stanza either; it might detract from the fact that in that stanza the speaker is addressing themself, instead of t

Thank you so much for your opinion! I have put my heart and soul into my writing and your feedback means so much to me!

This is really well written. Love is a such an intricate thing which is hard to tackle in every way, but in this instance to write about and encapsulate a struggle with the concept of love. I can feel the helplessness and desperation in the poem. The last 3 lines really add to that. A lot of the lines are profound in that sense, with vivid statements and cries for help and reconciliation. Great poem and I hope you’re well.

Do you think that this is love? 

What you do to me? 

Stab me and tell me I'm not bleeding. 

Hit me and kiss my bruises. 

Lie to me and tell me it's for my own good. 

Is this what love is?

&amp;#x200B;

You've ripped my lungs from my chest. 

My legs from the rest of my body. 

You've made me dependent on you. 

Worst of all, you call it love.

&amp;#x200B;

You tell me you love me. 

You tell me you're sorry. 

But you don't give me air to breathe. 

And you don't sew my legs back to my torso.

&amp;#x200B;

How do I walk with you? 

How do I breathe your air? 

How do I love you?

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[https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/w325lg/comment/iguh2p8/?utm\_source=share&amp;utm\_medium=web2x&amp;context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/w325lg/comment/iguh2p8/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3)

[https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/w35uvo/comment/iguhj6p/?utm\_source=share&amp;utm\_medium=web2x&amp;context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/w35uvo/comment/iguhj6p/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3)

Love: noun; an intense feeling of deep affection