I have a rain cloud
In my pocket.
It comes with me everywhere.
It carries
The pain of the people I love most.

My best friend
Wants to hurt herself

Again,

My lover's
Emotionally abusive mother
Is yelling things in his direction

Again,

Some boy I barely know,
Is telling me how much
He hates his life,

Again,

I try to let it go,
But it follows me around
And rains on my head,
As if tied to my wrist
Like a balloon.

My sister
Wants me to forgive our father,
And gloss over his damaging tendencies,

Again,

My mother
Wants me to smile,
And tell her she's always right,

Again.

I hold everyone
In my life
In a rain cloud in my pocket.
I like to hide it,
But the lightning
Itches at my nerves,
And the thunder is always
In my ears.

It's been years,
But I'm still me.
I'm still listening to whoever needs me,
And watering my rain cloud.
Taking bits of stratus,
And cumulonimbus,
From above people's heads,
And packing them with my own.

And never owning up to
What's wrong with me
Is I can't take care of you,

Again