If You Can't, I Can't

 

I plug my ears

“If you can’t

Hear me

I can’t

Hear me”

I scream

Since it’s all

I know.

Crying

Sobbing

Yelping

I can’t stand it

I can’t hear it

If you can’t.

Playing pretend

All day

Every day.

“Smile for the

Camera!”

I’ll smile

Like I mean it.

“Laugh like there’s

No tomorrow!”

I’ll laugh

And feel

The harsh cackle

Rising in

My throat.

“Come here

And gimme

A hug”

I’ll hug you

As if it’s

Not the last time

I’ll ever

See you.

“How do you feel?”

I’ll describe

All these feelings

I will never

Know again.

“You mean the

World to me”

I’ll grin

And force my eyes

To twinkle

As if

I could feel

The same.

“If I can’t

Hear me

You can’t

Hear me”

Is how I live.