ManChild

While wandering the barren remains

of a life burned too many times

by flames of rage and disappointment

I did see sparkling in the debris

something of peculiar wonderment

Like a diamond it glittered,

calling to me from

the soulscape so hideously littered

by the ashes and embers

of my cremated dreams.

As I searched for pieces of my self

strange gems beckoned me to follow.

Gathering them in my hands,

I did as I was bade

passing through a smokey forest

to another desolate glade.

I happened upon a small boy

hiding behind the face

of a sad and lonely man.

Do these belong to you,

I asked,

As I held out his frozen tears.

Yes, but I can’t have them

Daddy told me so.

Boys don’t cry,

Crying is just for girls,

so he said,

but he never told me why.

When the bad man hurt me

Daddy took my tears away.

I have not seen them since,

at least not until today.

The boy had morphed

into a handsome man

I had no cause to fear.

Stranger in face he was,

but to my heart

He was near and dear .

I had met the reason for my search,

and my purpose became clear.

He spoke softly of sorrow,

of loneliness and pain.

He wept openly

when I gave him back his tears

and let him feel again.