Tender Places Of The Heart

You feign enigmatic happiness yet your eyes reveal another tale.
You wear a mask of joy, a face of a young falsetto’s resplendent hope.
Yet often your smile is superficial and your laughter is hollow and pale.
You find yourself cold inside and alone; you collapse each day into the mirrors of your mind and tie still another knot in the rope.
 
No one knows that you feel this way for they think your life to be so swell and keen.
Yet if the world could only see you as I see you, then the truth would reveal and surely be seen.
You know who you are so to this lament I will call no names; for you know that I know.
Therefore remove this jester’s mask from your sullen face and muster new courage to grow.

I know that the many valleys in your life have been far deep and wide.
I know that you weep silently and alone to shore up your fledgling pride.

I know that your happiness comes from the tiny snippets of past joy in an otherwise sad life.

Oh So many times you have felt it all to be of no worth; nothing left to gain, nothing to do but die.

I pray for you even though you do not believe; I have only hope that His peace you’ll soon receive.

For I know the road that you have travelled and I know that many have come and gone your very way.

Therefore know this, for I speak to you of my heart, face now your demons and charge forth a new start.

I am your friend though really you know me not, and I will always shore up your way and dwell in the tender places of the heart.

Always…

J. Allen Wilson © 2007