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.