No Room for Sentimental

A Poem

Photo by Kevin Wolf on Unsplash

keep on going –
that’s what they said,
veneer in place
for every occasion,
never a mess,
picture perfect
mask not askew

don’t give up –
as if it’s universal
the way grief
runs tides with life,
floods emerging,
all those waters
ready to converge

just smile –
that’s what you said
with every burden,
boulders mounting,
all these unsafe spaces
multiplying
with no end in sight

you can be happy –
did you find that online,
a Hallmark greeting card
in the making
just as I’m unraveling,
threads fraying
in this fabric face

it’s just a phase –
you told me that
last time, you know,
and it hasn’t changed
one little thing
for me or anyone,
all those lost souls

you’ll be okay –
as if you can see
what future awaits,
but don’t you see,
don’t you see,
there’s more to this story
than you’ll ever know

Originally published on Simily