Chloe G. Railsback

I know so many people,
But do they know me?
They recognize the face,
but that's all they ever see.

They see the shell they think is me,
but they don't see the stuff inside,
the things that are buried,
the things I try to hide.

There are things under the
makeup, clothes, and the style.
There are secrets hidden
under that big phony smile.

Inside, my heart
is thundering like a storm,
and if I were to break,
it'd come pouring like a swarm.

I dwell where it's dark,
wet, and cold,
and I think many thoughts
that nobody knows.

Then there's that one person
who in my soul can shine a light
and discover all sins
hidden in my eyes.

He comforts, he cautions,
and I say, "Don't tell."
He is the one who knows me,
the me under the Shell.

A friend is a person
who has always has your back,
a person
who has faith in you and says that you can.

A friend is a person
who points you onward, instead of leading you askew,
a person
who gives you hope to see the journey through.

A friend is a person
who helps you up when you've fallen,
a person
who cheers you up when you're sullen.

A friend is a person
who even though all have passed,
still cheers you on,
even if you're in last.

A friend is a person
who remembers what you knew,
a person
who stands by you and forgets every feud.