Broken face

"Just one glance"

I met him twenty years ago
And never saw him again
His face, like one suffering PTSD,
Showed little hidden sparks of hope
That maybe this time life will work.
He left the big city, and fled for the coast
Hoping that strong winds
And sand between his toes
Will soften the city's dark pain.
Wrinkles burned into his cheeks
By acid rain of worries.
I try to hide with wry smiles
This back flash, of someone I knew
For only ten minutes
It haunted me for days on end
Until my darker self confessed
This memory by no means random - 
The truth revealed, in my face shows...........
The same death blows -
And nobody knows.

Reviews

[....................]

How often do we meet someone whose very expressions and demeanour reflect something in ourselves? Your write is evidence that we are connected in many ways and while that connection is most difficult to see, sometimes it rings through loud and clear, even if it takes years for the mind to realize it. A beautiful write and accompanying photo.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Strange how we often acquiesce to our own emotions and our own heartbreak when confronted with another person's misery. That subconscious connection bringing out the sympathy and understanding. Some simple encounters can stay with us for ever.

[SleeplessVolcano]

Indeed they can......strange then, how we can sometimes miss life-long encounters we have with people on a regular basis.....maybe we have selective experiences......

[~]

Some people, like the man you described, refract on our mind's eyes, things we did not want to speak audibly. i can see why a total stranger can evoke so much, whereas those closest cannot see.
A very poignant and reflective piece Volcano!