Silver teardrops -
the only sign of
the internal agony -
hidden for so many years.

The full face smile
touches all – until
they see the eyes -
for there’s no joy there.

If the eyes are the
Windows to the Soul -
and the eyes are vacant -
where has the soul retreated?

And why?

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
This is when I realized a friend was really hurting within.

Jan Toomer
(JUN97)