I Don"t Have To Know You

I don"t have to know you
or anything about you
to know that you are familiar with pain.

That you have felt the sting of life,
the sharp point of the world"s unguided knife.

That you have felt the unyielding ache of a broken heart,
the depths of sadness
or the bitter cold of loneliness.

No, I don"t have to know you
or anything about you
to see the way you walk,
slightly bent
and tired from the weight you have carried on your shoulders for so long.

I don"t have to see your tears
to know you have cried yourself to sleep
in the darkness, many times.

I don"t have to see your scars
to know you are well aware
of what it feels like
to have your own blood poor from your body.

I don"t have to touch you
to know you have felt intense fear
or the burning heat of anger.

I don"t have to know you
or anything about you
to know you have needs that are not met
and dreams that were cut short.

All I have to do is SEE you
and know that you,
like I,
are human.

Country, folk, storytelling  Melancholic