A Crying Shame

Can’t allow myself the joy of crying;

So I keep smiling.

Crying means I give up;

So I keep going.

Crying means defeat;

So I keep fighting.

Crying means the end;

So I don’t close my eyes at night.

Crying means somebody else won, and I lost;

So I continue to think of myself as a winner.

Crying means I let myself down;

So I give myself pep talks.

Crying means I let my children down;

So I make sure that I’m upright all the time.

Crying means I’m not as strong as I should be;

So I keep saying “I’m fine” when asked “How are you doing?”

Crying means my women folk who have passed on will be ashamed of me.

So I swallow the urge to cry, because there’s no one to comfort me should I dare cry.

I dare not cry;

For I won’t be able to stop.