This ache in my chest

Is a hollow and empty space

My heart has shrunken and

Hardened.

There is nothing left but a void

My sorrow is a living thing

And it transforms me

Into something that I do not like

Yet I am helpless to change it

I have aged before his very eyes

There is nothing left of the child

Or if there is, I know not

There is a child there

Hiding

In the dark recesses of my mind

I know she’s there

Hiding

I try to coax her out

But she won’t come

She can’t hear me calling to her

Through the gloom of my memories

The darkness is a wall that keeps me from her

And her from me

I cry for her to emerge from this well that is my soul

But she can’t hear me

I can’t reach her

She doesn’t want to come out

The world is full of sorrow and pain

Why let my child see all of this

It is better for her to hide inside of me

But my soul is tarnished like old silver

That is never in use and left to time

And it pollutes our view of the world