Building Bridges

You feel you are on an Island in an ocean made of tears.
But there are many that would help you to the shore.
If only you could know.

He has gone and you are left to carry on alone.
To take those many men and punish him for leaving.
But are you only punishing yourself?

I hear you nearly every night.
Male voices in your room.
The creaking of your bed in protest at their thrusts.

The same creaking that I'd heard before as I lay in my bed.
But now something is missing.
The sounds of joy and laughter that accompanied my tears.

I watch you as you walk along the street.
Mechanical in movement, strain lines upon your face.
Ignorant of the thoughts and comments of the neighbours that you pass

Do you return their thrusts with vigour?
Or is your response as mechanical as that walk?
The only way to pay him back, revenges bitter coinage.

Do you think that he knows?
Do you hope that he cares?
Do you want him to come back?

You feel you are on an Island in an Ocean full of tears.
But there are many that would help you to the shore.
Let me be the one to build a bridge, a causeway to my heart.

Let me be your knight in shining armour.
Your shelter from life's storms.
Let me take you in and hold you safe.

Another day goes past.
The voices there again.
More, the same and different.

I hear them talking.
I hear them laughing.
I hear you cry in pain.

What should I do?
What can I do?
Would you want me to anyway?

Another cry.
Another laugh.
Another creak of bedsprings.

I have to go.
I have to see.
I knock upon your door.

They open it.
They swear at me.
I ask if you are there.

They swear again and clench their fists.
I look for you then run.
What else could I do?

I close my door.
My heart is pounding.
As I listen to their laughter.

Breakfast done
And plate washed up
You knock upon my door.

"Come in,"
I say and you sit down.
There's no laughter in your eyes.

"You heard?"
"Last night?"
"My friends brought friends to see me."

"I heard."
"Last night."
"I thought I heard you cry."

"I did."
"Thank you."
"For coming to my aid."

"But they're alright."
"My friends."
"Just sometimes they want so much."

"You surely cannot?"
"You surely do not?"
"You surely, surely don't?"

"My friends are all I have."
"They always want me so."
"They'll never leave me alone."

"Like him?"
I tried to ask.
"Like him?"

You rise.
Then leave and close the door.
Why couldn't I find the words?

Another night.
More springs and laughter.
Why couldn't I find the words?

We all feel like were Islands in an ocean full of tears.
Find a way to build a bridge to someone.
Show them the causeway to your heart.