Knowing When... Poem by Richard Wlodarski

I sat and really listened to you today
Hung on to every word you had to say
I looked into your saddened eyes
And saw your anger in the skies

I sat and really listened to you today
Watched for every signal you had to convey
I saw the tears you were hiding
From the long days and nights of chiding

I sat and really listened to you today
Saw every hurt that you had to repay
I felt the anger raging in you
For thinking your reward was now due

I sat and really listened to you today
Heard all the in-between words you had to say
I looked into your lonely eyes
Tried to convey my lonesome cries

I sat and really spoke with you today
Strung out every word I had to say
I forced you to look into mournful eyes
For you to see my anger and the lies

I sat and really spoke with you today
Sent every signal I had to convey
I abandoned the tears from falling
To heal from all of the tongue-lashing

I sat and really spoke with you today
Saw every hurt I had to repay
I felt the anger surging in me
For never finding my liberty

I sat and spoke intimately with you today
Trusting in you knowing secret words I had to say
I forced you to look into my lonesome eyes
So that once again we could empathize



Richard Wlodarski October 2015