I
get
.
t
h
e
.
feeling
.
y
o
u
.
have
.
n
o
t
.
smiled
.
i
n
.
a
while . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
get
.
t
h
e
.
feeling
.
there’s
.
m
u
c
h
.
more
inside,
.
.
t
h
a
t
.
.
you
deny
.
t
h
e
.
world
outside . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
although,
.
I
.
know
.
y
o
u
.
might
.
a
t
.
times,
–
–
feel
confused
.
a
n
d
.
lost
between
.
t
h
e
.
midnight
aisles
.
a
n
d
.
dawn’s
.
unforgiving
skies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
know
.
h
o
w
.
it
feels
.
t
o
.
hide
.
b
e
h
i
n
d
.
lies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ to
hide
.
b
e
h
i
n
d
.
the
.
hollow
disguise,
.
.
o
f
.
.
laughing
eyes
.
t
h
a
t
.
would
.
m
u
c
h
.
rather
cry . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
know
.
h
o
w
.
it
feels . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
know
.
h
o
w
.
it
feels
.
t
o
.
live
.
w
i
t
h
o
u
t
.
being
alive . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ how
.
i
t
.
feels
.
t
o
.
ride
.
t
h
e
.
highest
highs,
.
.
i
n
t
o
.
.
the
.
deepest
dives . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
know
.
h
o
w
.
it
feels . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
So,
.
let’s
.
m
a
k
e
.
today
.
t
h
e
.
day
.
w
e
.
laugh
.
a
n
d
.
dance
.
w
i
t
h
.
the
.
carefree
joys,
.
.
w
e
.
.
knew
.
a
s
.
girls
.
a
n
d
.
boys . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ back
when
.
w
e
.
never
.
h
a
d
.
to
worry
.
a
b
o
u
t
.
being
.
g
o
o
d
.
enough
.
t
o
.
make
.
t
h
e
.
grade . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
r
–
–
–
about
temptations
.
t
h
a
t
.
might
lead
.
u
s
.
astray . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ back
when
.
w
e
.
never
.
h
a
d
.
to
worry
.
a
b
o
u
t
.
misconceptions
.
a
n
d
.
false
impressions . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
r
–
–
–
stereotypes
.
a
n
d
.
hierarchy
climbs . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
r
–
–
–
social
acceptance
.
a
n
d
.
repentance . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ back
when
.
w
e
.
never
.
h
a
d
.
to
worry
.
a
b
o
u
t
.
being
.
g
o
o
d
.
enough . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ good
enough
.
f
o
r
.
love . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
get
.
t
h
e
.
feeling
.
y
o
u
.
have
.
n
o
t
.
smiled
.
i
n
.
a
while . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
b
u
t
.
.
.
I
pray
.
I
.
c
a
n
.
somehow
fade
.
t
h
e
.
weight
.
o
f
.
shame . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
weight
.
o
f
.
shame
.
t
h
a
t
.
dims
.
t
h
e
.
starshine,
–
–
where
.
y
o
u
r
.
playful
spirit
.
s
t
i
l
l
.
resides.
Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2001 where the contemplator is deeply affected by a solemn soul who repeatedly struggles with love, sadness, loneliness, and acceptance, and tends to get drawn into the depths of darkness and despair where he/she withdraws to struggle alone.