Sit Down, Hear Me, If Only for Now

And you see him everyday

Running his hand through his hair

As he looks to someone that’s just

So much more than you.


It’s when you see

Into your best friend’s eyes and

Get washed with pure disappointment

Because you’re not what they signed up for

And god forbid someone for

wasting their valuable time.


It’s when you work day and night

For something that never came,

And you let yourself down amidst

Expectations you’ve trembled under.

 

It’s when the promises and the kind words

Don’t soften the landing—or the crash—

And suddenly it’s all

Coming apart.


Pain and hurt can be a physical thing,

But your mom can hold your hand

At the hospital bed; she cannot

cut the crust off of

a broken person.


So then it aches, 

And every footstep becomes laborious,

And into days into mornings into nights,

you mourn upon the living.


It’s all cruel, tiring. Yet, at the end of a suffering

Comes a lull, and in the pitch of uncertainty

Is where it really matters.


Don’t heal by way of anger or pity, no...

Instead, save up Band-Aids and loving kisses

For when it hurts the most,

And patch yourself with care.


Take your time and rub away

The callouses etched into your palm;

Let yourself laugh again

and refuse isolation,

allow the bruises to fade.


For the sake of yourself, allow it.


After all,

I could teach you something about pain,