Retro Poem #11: Nothing Comes Out

Do you know 

   that when you cry

   I feel it?

Do you know

   that when you hold it back

   I feel that too?

Sometimes I feel you

   hold down a great big sob

   but nothing comes out.

Sometimes the tears are there,

   but the fears are there too,

   and nothing comes out.

Sometimes you’ve long since 

   stopped the tears

   and I hug you

   and everything wants to start again

   but nothing comes out.

A great big cry

   bundled up with pain and fear

   and whatever else - I don’t know -

   surges toward the surface

   and slams into the wall 

   of your determination.

I am not sure exactly 

   what you are determined to do

   except to hold that bundle down

   and nothing comes out.

Your will is strong;

   you can do almost anything you want.

But sometimes I wish 

   that you would not master your emotions.

I wish they were free to be released

   good, bad

   strong, weak

   attractive, or not

   I wish they came out.

When a sob surges

   it needs to be released.

Emancipate the prisoners,

   and emancipate yourself.