"ON THE INSIDE" in "RESTLESS: POETICALLY-SPEAKING"

How do you comfort
the one crying on the inside?
You can’t find the words
Nothing seems to sound right

You find yourself
captured by that smile
as if there are no traces of bereft
not even for a while

How can anyone be that strong
with so much pain to hide?
Sometimes fate feels so wrong
and one can lose the fight

It’s that moment you see
how beautiful that smile can be
despite not out of joy
but surviving tragedies

How can you be the comfort
for the one grieving on the inside?
It’s like they carry the weight of the world
without displaying their plight

Do you want to?
How, when you don’t always understand everything?
They’re made of thick, strong shells
full of past battle scars
There’s no time to dwell
just consistent protection
over their already badly, broken heart

For now,
only two lame, little words
you can only offer
while silently praying
that they’re given
an endless divine consolation:

“Take care.”

R.

(Jakarta, 2/5/2017 - 4:00 pm)