Saturday, April 7, 2012

Permanent Tears

I’m sitting against the wall
half-way listening
to someone drone on and on
like Charlie Brown’s teacher
wah-WAH-wah-WAH

and it’s colder than Antarctica
in this hellish room of gray
so much it seems
my brain is frozen.
I cover my ears with my hair
scan the room so my eyes won’t stick
like moist lips to ice cubes

and in the corner sits a teen
so miserable and lost
it’s written all over
his dazed-out face
two teardrops
inked beneath his left eye
his sadness, disillusionment permanent
lost in a world where he knows not his place
his eyes meet mine

and I offer him a warm smile of hope. I hope.


©laurie kolp


Prompt inspiration:
Poetic Asides (PA) Day 7- "write a poem describing a scene in which two or more people interact without speaking"

NaPoWriMo, Day 7- Color

8 comments:

Mary said...

Sometimes looks can convey love and caring as strongly as words do. Sometimes not speaking is the best communication. I like your poem, Laurie.

nan said...

Laurie, this poem touched me. The empathy expressed in a mundane moment of despair...tender and lovely.

Brian Miller said...

they need those smiles....and i am glad you were there to give it to him...and maybe show him too he is not the only one uncomfortable in the room...

Margaret said...

very moving. Thank God you were there to give that comfort to that boy!

Unknown said...

Smiles can make a big difference!

Marianne said...

A beautiful interaction, Laurie, beautifully told!

Mary B. Mansfield said...

A smile is one of those gifts that cost us nothing but can mean everything to another person...nicely done!

Peaceful Warrior said...

One would guess that any smile you gave would melt ice, or warm a room.

Loved the poem of the tear tatooed teen.

P.W.