Door opens,

He walks in with his sullen expression,

melancholy attitude, transforming the atmosphere

from joyful to somber

His wife asks “How was your day honey?”

Shrugging his shoulders replying “Okay I guess”

Choosing to carry a burden by himself

Pride won’t allow the truth

Pride won’t release the emotions or the tears

She does only what he’ll allow

A few comforting words and a hot meal

He thanks her, giving his best effort to smile

Finishes and says “Baby, think I’ll turn in early”

She nods, stuck between a rock and a hard place

Because there’s only so much he’ll discuss

She straightens up, and does the only thing

She knows that will allow him to keep his pride

She waits ‘til he’s asleep, wraps her arms around him

and begins to speak

“I see and I know things are hard

but you don’t have to be an island

If you let me be your umbrella, we can

weather the storm together

This cross is big enough for two to bear

So distribute the weight evenly

Cause if we don’t walk the right path,

see our present and not be consumed by our past

We can see our future, look back at this and laugh

I want you to, one day look at what we’ve had

Then realize it’s not all bad

Cause if I’m your better half

Then let me shine with you, instead of a shadow cast”

She strokes the side of his face

Feeling the dampness to her hand

And then she hears,

“Thank you, we’ll do better.”

© 2009