Knock three times

Don’t mistake that smile,

as I die a little inside, 

hiding the sadness that welled up 

like a high spring tide, 

in a room of a thousand, 

I can feel unseen, alone, 

I phone friends, but whitter, 

never tell the truth or moan, 

the utter immensity, the gravity

 of this loneliness as it hits me, 

there is no predictability, 

can I hide behind this fallacy?

I am not a watch or automaton, 

this human condition goes on, 

beyond all explanation, 

just a painful isolation, 

but if you were to ask me, are you ok, 

don’t just say it once, as I brush you away, 

try again, repeat the phrase,

this time I breathe, a tell-tale giveaway, 

and you see that all is not well, 

there is pain beneath the shell, 

I dare you ask me again, 

third time is the charm, 

I tell you my tale,

you keep me from harm, 

now I cry as I pen these lines 

for I know tonight you saved me.