Man, Be Kind

He stands just like a steady wall,

To catch his friends before they fall.

He listens well to every grief,

And offers them a quick relief.

He plays the role of counselor friend,

On whom the broken souls depend.

He heals their hearts and clears their view,

But no one asks, "How are you?"

They tell him of their love and strife,

The messy pieces of their life.

He gives them strength and all his time,

While up a mountain he must climb.

But when he tries to share his weight,

He meets a cold and silent fate.

He speaks a word of his own fear,

But finds there is no listening ear.

They nod their heads and act so kind,

But leave his heavy thoughts behind.

They turn the talk back to their own,

And leave him standing all alone.

Behind the smile he’s forced to wear,

Is more than any man should bear.

He waits until the room is still,

Then lets the tears begin to fill.

He cries in shadows, out of sight,

Away from every peering light.

Because he knows if he should break,

The pillar of their world would shake.

But Man, be kind and see the truth,

You’ve spent your strength and all your youth,

Fixing hearts that won’t fix yours,

While you are bleeding through the pores.

You deserve a listener too,

Who sees the man inside of you.

Don't let your spirit slowly die,

While living out a hollow lie.