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.