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Are you ok?
While I searched for her face
fleeting glimpse's into others eyes
they somehow know if they look into mine
that all is not well
As another tried to make small talk to me
she could tell
something was amiss
She proceeded to press me with question
I said "why are you so interested"?
She replied with a statement and a suggestion
"Loosen up" and "Live a little"...
and then she saw "it"... she had glimpsed for a brief moment into my soul, as she looked into my eyes.
"Oh my" she said with a certain amount of surprise and compassion,
I could tell she wished she had met me before "it"
and the thought occurred to me
my mind was half present, the heart was missing,
and maybe on the outside she couldn't see the bleeding
but now she pressed on...
"Just curious" she said,
to which I replied
"curiousity killed the cat"
As she continued asking questions, made small talk
of which I really didn't hear,
she leaned over and whispered in my ear
"are you ok?"
And as I kept looking at the people
occupieing this place
searching each one for your face,
I softly replied..."No"
Copyright © -2001 Dennis Hicks
your poem made my breath catch in my throat. i have felt this emotion more times than i can count. you wrote of it so well.
Than you
Thank you, 21 years later
I recall very well the first time that I read this piece. SO very well-done, for a difficult subject & situation. As always, well-expressed, Dennis! :)