You stare at your reflection,
Eyes saturated with broken sleep,
Blood vessels about to rupture
Through exhaustion.
It's not as dark as you think.
Loss is normal,
Your departed friend knows this.
He reaches out to console you,
Only you don't realise.
He pleads with you to witness
The true picture,
It's not as dark as you think.
Appetite non-existent,
In spite of raw hunger,
Stomach spinning with distress.
Hair tousled and and stiff,
Like a bale of hay
Only fit to be tossed aside,
It's not as dark as you think.
Morning journey fraught
With queues and indecision,
Obstinate mind refusing to settle,
You can't function, psyche buzzing
With guilt.
It's not as dark as you think.
You can't find a way through
This turmoil, no matter how much
You relax, friendly faces offer support
In a difficult time,
It's not as dark as you think.
A few months pass,
You begin to reflect,
On good times and laughter gone by.
Realisation hits you, healing begins,
The answer is clear.
It's not as dark as you think......
(c)2011, NZ