A Letter

My dearest friend,
I will say "good morning" to you
(Though it is not),
And greet you with a smile
(Though I feel no joy),
And ask 'How are you?'
In a most sincere voice.
To which you will reply
(As you always do)
"Fine, and how are you?"
To which I will answer
"Fine"
(Though I do not mean it).
In fact, I will be anything but fine.
I will be as unfine as possible.
And I will say nothing when you accept
My untruthful answer
And move along with your day,
Though my heart cries out for you to notice
And my soul anguishes for
Your attention
Your care.
Just a single word of sympathy,
An expression of doubt
About my feeble answer.
Oh my friend!
That you would
Pause
And ask me
If everything is really okay.
To this, my response would be
A flood of tears.
I would let loose the gates,
Allow the tide
To break my walls.
I would shed my burdens
On my river of tears
And I would heal.
But I know you will not ask twice.
You will move along
(Like everyone else strolling past)
And leave me here
With a thousand
Unanswered cries for help
And a million
Unshed
Silent
Tears.