In the quiet shadows of bustling streets,  
Where smiles are painted, but sorrow repeats,  
A stranger passes, eyes lost in dreams,  
Behind their facade, a heart quietly screams.  
You cannot know what burdens they bear,  
The weight of the world, too heavy to share,  
Each step they take, a dance with their fears,  
Each laugh a mask, concealing lost years.  
What storms have they weathered, what nights spent alone?  
The echoes of silence, the ache of the unknown,  
You cannot see the tears that they've cried,  
Or the dreams that lie dormant, the hope that has died.  
Kindness, a whisper, a touch on the skin,  
A reminder of light in the depths of the din,  
A warm word, a gesture, in a world run cold,  
A gentleness offered when courage feels bold.  
So be kind, dear heart, for the cost is but small,  
A moment of grace can uplift through it all,  
For we are all fighting our own hidden wars,  
And kindness, like armor, can open up doors.  
When you reach for another, be mindful, be true,  
For the battles we bear, we’re not just passing through,  
In the tapestry woven of stories untold,  
We find threads of compassion, more precious than gold.  
So tread softly, dear soul, on this fragile terrain,  
And let kindness be the balm that eases the pain,  
Though you can’t see their struggle, their fight, or their art,  
Know that kindness can heal the unseen aching heart.