pain

is your pain imagined

or real

does pain show in the lines

on your face

pain can often not be seen at all

some hide it well

beneath layers of sorrow

and smiles

that never reach the eyes



eyes that can not see

never looking

below the surface

or is not seeing on purpose

are others unable to bear to see

sightless eyes that are not blind

refusing to comprehend

looking too closely at others

is burdensome and dangerous

if we see someone Else's pain

can they also see ours



we are to be happy

live neat little lives

under our control

out of control is unacceptable

to be avoided at all costs

but who really has control

the unseeing eyes

cannot see the streetwalker

the homeless, the unemployed

as long as they touch not our own lives

pretending is made easier

then nothing bad really exists



everyone has pain

life includes moments

days, weeks, months, years

where pain can eat you alive

don't let anyone else know

who really wants to know anyway

we hide, we stuff, we pretend

pain does not exist

why deny, why pretend

because we must be perfect

and perfection has no room

for pain