The Eyes Behind The Masks

I COULD STILL SEE HER EYES

THE WINDOW TO HER SOUL

NO MASK COULD HIDE WHAT LAY THERE

OR THE STORY THAT THEY TOLD.

THE VACANT LOOK OF SADNESS.

OF FEAR AND DESOLATION

CRIED OUT FROM THE DARKNESS

YEARNING FOR CONSOLATION.

I HELD HER AS THEY FADED

TO A SHADE OF MILKY WHITE

EYELIDS CLOSING GENTLY

INTO HER LONG GOOD NIGHT.

ANOTHER DAY UPON ME

AS I DO MY DAILY TASK

OF TALKING TO A FAMILY

BEHIND MY BLOODY MASK

I OFFER THEM ASSURANCE

THAT THEIR MUM IS ON THE MEND

I KNOW THEY WANT TO HUG ME

BUT THROUGH their EYES THEY SEND

SMILES OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE

AND SOME TEARS OF SADNESS TOO

SHONE BRIGHTLY FROM THEIR EYES

IN THE DEEPEST SHADE OF BLUE..

I OPEN MY DOOR WEARILY

THE DAY HAS TAKEN IT’S TOLL

BUT LITTLE EYES LOOK UP AT ME

FROM THE WINDOW OF THEIR SOUL

EYES FULL OF LOVE AND MISCHIEF

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR

FOR THEIR MUM WHO WEARS A MASK

AND DOESN'T COME TOO NEAR

UNTIL SHE’S WASHED AND CHANGED

THEY WAIT IN EXCITED GLEE

TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND ME

TO HUG, TO TOUCH, TO SEE

THEIR MUM WITH SMILING EYES

WITHOUT A WORRY OR A CARE.

IN THEIR CHILDLIKE KNOWING.

THEY SEE WHAT’S REALLY THERE

EYES CLOSED NOW AND SLEEPING EASILY

I TUCK THEM IN SO TIGHT.

MY EYES FILLED WITH WORRY

IN THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT.

YOU SEE THE EYES CAN TELL A STORY

WITHOUT A WORD BEING SAID.

IN THE TINY UPWARD WRINKLES.

AND THE TEARS THAT NEED TO SHED.

FOR NOW WE WEAR OUR MASKS

TO PROTECT AND KEEP US WHOLE

BUT ALLOW YOUR LIGHT SHINE THROUGH

THE WINDOWS OF YOUR SOUL.