Unwept tears

Unwept Tears

We were keepers, we always had
We stuffed the soul till it was mute, till it was numb
Souls that feared rejection
Souls burdened by untold stories
Stories we tucked away
Souls drenched in unwept tears
Immobilized tears, like water trapped in oil droplets. 


Lumps of frustration choked by denial
A recurrent fogginess in our eyes that vanished as quickly as it was formed
Tears that pride dried, like clothes under the sun
Chronic sadness.
A sadness that even smiled
Smiles we faked so well
Tears we didn't dare to shed, years ago, yesterday.


We were told to be strong
“Strength does not cry” they said
No one to say it was okay to let go
“Strength retaliates” they said
No one to say it’s okay not to keep scores
Strength was courageous, ironically not enough to cry
Not enough to be vulnerable
No one told us, we’ll wake up one day feeling like life lived us.


Today though, we want to cry
Tears should fall
Trickle down our jaws
With a touch that feels maternal
Like rain after a long drought
Restoring the soul’s fertility anew
Today we weep till vulnerability resurfaces
Weeping the unwept
Sweeping the unswept
Till we beam again
Till we feel again

Coco M 
  
Photo: Unknown photographer