Unknown Woman

In the mirror I saw her smile and tie
Her hair behind her ear, then I
Looked hard at the enigmatic stare,
Tried to discern a meaning there.
It seemed to ask
If behind the mask
Was a stifled cry.

In the windows I glimpsed her walking by
So unsubstantial, shadows against the sky,
As she meandered in and out of light
Then disappeared, into the silent night.
She seemed to say:
Is there a way
For hurt to die?

I dare not know, I cannot tell what pain,
If stirred, would soon surface once again;
What half-forgotten former errors
Would be transformed into present terrors.
Until I know
What can make them go,
Here I'll remain.

Within this world we're born and live and die
And while we're here we gaze at life and try
To build a framework which will stand,
To find and grasp a helping hand.
I offer no pretence
That I can make sense
Of the woman who is I.

Words

I'm rather fond of chocolate, although preferably plain,
My friends have rarely known me to say "No" to more champagne,
An enthusiastic bear hug makes me feel more alive,
But I need words to help me to survive.

They talk of body language - I suppose it must be true.
Advertisments proclaim that one red rose means: "I love you".
But for those unanswered problems which are churning in my brain,
I need words, or else I'll go insane.

Reading minds is difficult, I just don't have the skill.
I don't know what you want for Christmas or if you're feeling ill,
If you're contemplating murder or just thinking you're too fat.
If you don't use words, it's like talking to the cat.

And yet, I too am secretive and don't say all I mean.
Sometimes it would hurt too much or might provoke a scene.
I scream frustration when you shrug, staring blankly at your drink,
But I'll never tell my father even half of what I think.

So I'm glad that our creator gave us several thousand pages
All filled with words inspired throughout many different ages.
Yet, when he chose to share with us the heart of his great plan,
He didn't send us words, but his own Word became a man.