To Love is to Decay
by Deelisha Agrawal, India. First place in the Writory International Poetry Contest, July 2026, scored 99 out of 100.
To Love is to Decay She asks, “Would you love me if I were a worm?” I open my eyes and unclench my fists. All phantoms dissolve as my nightmare shatters. I whisper good morning and hold her close, She’s the only one left who decides if I matter. Worms are creatures of a mold forgotten; I have no garden, and they are disgusting. Consuming bones and flesh alike, They leave you with nothing. Yet if she were a worm in a forest nearby I would go to her among the vultures and crows, If she were a worm in a forest nearby I would lie in the dirt and decompose. If she were a worm, I would die sooner, And I would will my body to decay quick. If she were a worm, I would cut myself open, And check if the blood runs thin or thick. If she were a worm I would let her feed for a lifetime, If she were a worm Her shelter would be my honoured shrine. I would feed her my rotten heart, And I’ll snap my bones if it pleases her! I would protect her from storms and thunder And I’ll hollow my ribs to embrace her. If she desired a grander feast, I will bury myself where the ivy grows wild; I will ensure she rests comfortably, Under the tomb with our names compiled. I would spend my lifetime trying to make her full, She would spend her lifetime trying to consume me whole. She would take and take and give me nothing back, And I would still plead for her to take my rotten soul. She asks me again, “Would you love me if I was a worm?” And softly, I answer: “Yes, I would.” For love itself is not meant for the dirt; But for my love beside me, I shall gladly turn to earth. Deelisha Agrawal
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