It did not show, but it was real.

I spend my days embracing the raw, unguarded parts of myself and those around me. When the masks are heavy, the pain too much and the past still aches- I step in. I try to hold stories and spaces.

And some times pain speaks in sentences that touch my soul. One such statement lingered in my mind and inspired this poem.

The sadness behind the smile, 

The smile behind the tears, 

The tears behind the joy, 

The joy behind the loss. 

I did not see it, but it was real.

A rainbow around the moon ;) I spotted it on the last evening of 2025

The shadow behind the light, 

The light behind the glow, 

The glow behind the darkness, 

The darkness behind the soul, 

I did not sense it, but it was real.

Bridges…… have something about them

The depth beneath the shallowness, 

The shallowness beneath the possessions, 

The possessions beneath the passion, 

The passion beneath the power, 

I did not live it, but it was real.

                                     

    

                                                                                        

The longing hidden behind that hug, 

The hug that didn’t linger for as long as I wanted, 

The lingering desires behind the touch too-brief,

The gentle touch behind my love,

You never felt it, but it was real.

This poem was first written in the Ochre Sky Stories writing circle to the lovely prompt by Natasha Badhwar