POEM: SILENT PAIN

BY TIM ‘DOC’ BAILES

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I often sit and ponder

Over long forgotten years

Of days and nights

In other lands

When my smiles were turned to tears

My spirit had ventured gladly

To these places torn in strife

No one could see

The kid in me

Was soon to lose his life

When innocence meets evil

And turmoil is at hand

It’s plain to see

That mentally

My head was in the sand

I feared to cry too often

And ceased to feel the pain

Shrieking screams

Were in my dreams

Their vision to remain

Thoughts too painful to pursue

Guilt was often on my mind

I hid that pain

Deep inside my brain

Somewhere I hoped to never find

Upon my return the world to me

Was different than before

The child, withdrawn

Had all but gone

To be heard from nevermore

Two score and some odd years have passed

Since time has stopped for me

I feel it’s strange To make a change

But I know this has to be

That silent pain I hide in vane

Took its toll you see

I can attest

I’m not my best

I’d always hoped to be.