The Sadness Behind the Eyes

by BONNIE V SMITH
(Salado, TX, USA)

The Sadness Behind the Eyes
of those who've loved and lost
is now inside me too.
I see it in those I meet,
and wonder how long they've had it.

I smile to hide the sadness,
but inside the turmoil rolls.

Grief, it's a tricky one.
A song, a word, a memory and all
of a sudden the tears flow.
I try to choke them back, but then
I cannot breathe.

Eventually, the pain subsides and
I make myself smile.
A smile can hide the sadness
but it's still behind the eyes.