Is There Pain Behind Your Smile?

Do y’all

Pretend

That you aren’t

Suffering?

Do some of you,

Choose

Not to let yourself

Admit it?

Is there pain

Behind

Your smile?

Why hide it?

It’d be more comforting

To know

That we are all

In this together

And suffering bravely

Doesn't mean

Hiding it

That

Makes the rest of us feel

Like we are alone

In our own suffering

Maybe

It’s easier for us

To ignore it

To hide from it

To pretend it doesn't exist

Then to work

To fix it.

-C.H.