Acknowledge Their Souls Poem by Heather Z. Hanna

Instead of me
I will look at them.
Look in their eyes
Acknowledge their souls.
Give them my attention.
Let them know or leave them feeling
Somehow special.
That someone cares,
If only for a moment.

Instead of me,
Hiding my face or my eyes
to keep them at bay.
Using my eyes as a mirror, a shield disguised.
To reflect their questions or impressions of me.
That will be the greater defense
of my private soul
that hides from them and resides with me.
To let them see only themselves in my eyes.
Will keep them away
and they will not know me.
But I will know them
to some degree.
Know their smiles or fears or anger or joys.
They will feel without knowing why,
that someone else cares about their private lives.
And I will keep my sanctity.
My privacy, my soul
For only me to know.
For only me.