INVENTORY OF OUR FEELINGS

we pack our feelings away for storage
put on the label: fragile... handle with care
put them into a dark corner for to be forgotten
dress into our formal wear and morn as if someone died
but when someone comes by, we wipe away our tears
take off our formal wear and put on some pastels
choke it up and smile and say our "how do you do's"
and walk away with them laughing
don't we ever dare show them the unseen tragedy
again our confidence is to be based on new feelings
that will eventually have to be packed away
just like the many other boxes in our past

© 2002 thomas bates