for pa

they were both dreamers
twenty-eight years apart
and they couldn't be any more alike
they were both artists
creating beauty with
just their fingertips
a whole world of knowledge
behind their eyes
they shared their brilliance
and they hid their hurt.

at some point in his life
he started to become numb
she wasn't sure when it all began
he wouldn't tell
he wouldn't show his weaknesses
she had never seen him cry before
this was where they were different
every time she thought about him
she found herself unconciously
wiping a heavy tear.

he drank and he smoke
he might have had reasons
for his self-destruction but
he never told her
she never wanted to know
she couldn't imagine...

he grew even more sick
the experts couldn't save him
he didn't want their help --
who could afford their help these days anyways
-- she insisted and he denied
still not revealing his weaknesses
"it happens" he said
"just keep going"

she looked at him
lying down on his back
helpless vulnerable afraid
yet he knew this day would arrive
she never knew it would arrive so early
so sudden
so unrelenting
she watched
as his soft eyes turned to cold glass

one dreamer
who carries the past
and the dense world
on her shoulders
a whole world of hurt
behind her eyes
she hides her brilliance
and her weaknesses.