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.
