Hidden Strength

I am not as strong as you state
Gaiety is a mask I wear
Oh, I am secure with who I am
I know my path and nature
Yet I have to be there for everyone else
So who do I turn to?
I am not as tough as you think
In the dark of night, I weep
Muffling my sobs with my pillow
Red-rimmed eyes in the morning
Are the only sign of sorrow
Makeup conceals more than blemishes
I am not as durable as you presume
I do not have it all together
I am scattered and broken and lost
Holidays are the most dreaded
Watching other people’s cheer
I am not as sturdy as you wish
I avoid contact with the world
Not wishing to share my longing
Or to destroy their happiness
With my melancholy experience
I am not as stoic as you imagine
Grief bears down on me
It drags at my heart and soul
I refuse to let it win or control me
For I am in charge of my course
I can pretend to be strong
Someday I will be strong and tough,
as you state, think, and presume
I will be durable, sturdy, and stoic
As you wish and as you imagine
Healing will happen in time
But it would be nice, sometimes
To have a shoulder to cry on
To be held and consoled
Will no one give me comfort?
I guess after all, despite what I think
I am as strong as you state
Image Credit: “Tiny warrior” by janssen_bremen is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0