A Letter of Recognition

A Letter of Recognition

Each day I am with her, I see her pain.

I watch it, this sadness, hinted upon her beautiful face,

And though she masks this sorrow with a smile,

Still I see through it, I know her too well.

It grieves me so, to hear that she is hurting.

Even so, I do all I can to help.

Yet I wonder if it has any effect...

I pray, and listen, and comfort, and empathize,

How can she be so disheartened?

I urge her to share with me, for I do truly care.

She's independent and strong, a leader in the making.

Does she not realize these trials occur to make her stronger?

I wonder.

It surprises and astounds me,

How she can encourage me and put my world back into perspective,

And not ask for anything in return...

She is so busy giving away love to others,

Yet she keeps barely enough for herself.

Selfless love such as this should never be forgotten, especially by those to whom it's given so freely.

My definition?

She's selfless, kind, a true friend, in a single word, heroic.

I wish more than anything she would see,

I want to be there for her.

She does not need to hide from herself,

Even if part of her struggles at times.

Don't hide it, I'm here to help.

Your tone of voice gives it away,

Believe it or not, I can see it in your eyes.

Exposing your weakness is not weakness, it is strength.

Bridge the gap, take a step, close your eyes, open your mouth, and speak what you feel.

So one more time she smiles at me, and says, "All is well."

I nod in helpless agreement, and silent adoration.

Background: "Letter of Recognition" was written last year. The inspiration for this piece originated from my writing letters to a friend. While writing one day, the concept hit me, "Why not conjure up a piece detailing the complexities and disappointments of a poorly functioning relationship" (keep in mind, this friend of mine and I were getting along perfectly well!). Though there is nothing structurally adhesive to this piece, I would like to hope that you, as a follower (and potentially critic) of my work, might appreciate the thought and time I put into this piece. In posting this one, I do feel comfortable in stating that I believe this is one of my better works. No, there is technically not a rhyme scheme or meter in this poem, but hopefully you will find that the words are rhythmic and cohesive at parts.

Basics: "Letter of Recognition" is ultimately a self-explanatory piece. A man feels as though the person he is in a relationship with, is not sharing personal details with him. He takes notice that she is struggling through life's trials, and so desires to comfort and empathize with her. But she is independent, not desiring any assistance from him. The man reassures with many comforting words, only to be denied. However, his respect for her is unwavering. The man admires her for her independent nature, but at the same time understands that this same quality keeps her from opening up and sharing with him.

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to comment and criticize. I welcome all feedback.

~Jacob P. Hartges