I Didn’t Hear

I listened,
But I didn’t hear
The words you said to me.
I thought I knew
You through and through;
But what I chose to see,
Was somebody quite different,
Somebody okay.
Somebody who tried to help
Ease loved ones’ pains away.
I didn’t know
You needed me,
You asked, but not that loudly.
The thing was,
With your head held high,
Your life led, far too proudly;
You seemed just fine,
And so I saw,
What we both hoped I’d see.
Your whispered help
Fell on deaf ears,
Although you trusted me.
I wish I’d seen,
I wish I’d helped,
I didn’t, now you’re gone.
Your quiet help was short and soft,
Your silence…
Oh, so long.