“A Popped Balloon”
I looked into his crying eyes
His heart so wracked with pain
Large, wet tears rolled down his face
So tortured and so stained
His aching frame fell to my arms
He wailed out loud and long
No false pride or fake facade
No reason to be strong
What, I thought, could cause this pain
To my child’s grieving heart
Surely something horrible
Was tearing him apart
My balloon went pop, he cried out to me
As the words caught in his throat
So much sadness, so much pain
Over a thing that ceased to float
Then I thought how as adults
We hide our inner pain
All the struggles we go through
Just to play our little games
We can’t be weak or feel alone
We can’t be scared or lost
We must be strong and proud and brave
No matter what the cost
What joy must be in crying free
Without remorse or shame
No apology need be made
Nor pledge that things will change
Why can’t we mourn our popped balloons
That steal away our joy
Why can’t we let out daily grief
Just like my little boy