I look in your eyes

And see the pain

Behind the grin.

I wonder

Who put it there?

Where have you been?

What have you seen?

What part of hell

Did you visit

Before you came here?

There is no answer.

Words become irrelevant

In the shadow

Of those eyes.

I am limited.

What can I do?

If I could, I would

Reach behind your eyes

And take the pain

That holds you prisoner.

But I can't.

You're afraid

To let me in.

Without help,

You can't get out.

I'd like to give you

The tools you need --

Teach you

To value yourself.

Breathe hope

Into your secret dreams.

Show you the way

To reach your goals.

I can't

Erase the past.

No one can.

But together,

We can rewrite

The future.