Tortured Eyes Poem by Bill Smith

it's in the eyes you see the tortured soul
behind an innocent child like smile
waters deep flood over outstretched arms
thoughts deceive the thinker
who in rare moments of lucidity
sees things they way they should be
but not for her the simple life
demons uncorked dilute her innocence
steal happiness that floats on gossamer layers
of unfounded optimism
at times she glows with a brilliance
that makes you wish you knew her and not the person
she has become
and all this happens in the blink of someone else's eyes
in the midst of a dream like sleep
restless, her eyes remembered burn across your memory
you pinch yourself and it hurts
so who sleeps you or her?
who lives for real?
her eyes are real
tortured deep into yesterday
where what caused whatever remains a secret
and only she holds the answers to your questions
but you dare not ask for the threat of violence
lurks behind eyes that are both lovely yet threatening
you want to touch, to speak, to learn
time passes, the moment gone
she retreats inward, closes the doors
bolts and locks the memories
uncorks another escape route,
smiles goodbye safe behind the mime
the ugly duckling in the pantomine
who never gets to see the true reflection of herself
in anything other than her own tortured eyes