NEPHART.COM

I cry every night

so that I can wake up

fresh

and happy

another day

and when I visit the garden

every morning

I see

I am not the only one crying

I cry every night

because daytime

I am on an acting spree

I act like I am alright

I act like my smile is free

and I act like

my money grows on a tree

I cry every night

because during the day

you can’t just get inside a blanket

and disappear

you can’t lock yourself in a bathroom

turn on the running water

and hope nobody hears you

sometimes

even the running water

isn’t loud enough

sunglasses cover the eyes

but they don’t cover

the tears rolling down

and I have to carry

lots of wipes

because

I need to protect

my sunscreen

I cry every night

to spill out all the poison

I have accumulated

from facing vile people

who sting me with their words

words

that stay long after

the people have left

so I cry every night

not because I am weak

but because I need to be strong

the next day

and now

now I need a soundproof room

just for crying

because I can no longer

cry inside a blanket

that blanket

is getting smaller

the walls are getting closer

and pretending to smile

all day

is becoming

just as suffocating

as trying to breathe

under that blanket

I cry every night

so that I can wake up

fresh

and happy

another day