When She Cries

I can hear her crying in her room upstairs.
I want to go to her
Comfort her
Tell her that everything will be all right.
But there are no words for me to say
None I would believe myself.
How can I tell her it will get better
When every day
Life seems to bring some new crisis?
Some new unsolvable problem to the door.
I want to tell her
That this is not the end of the world,
This is a small thing,
But I know
In her child's view of the world
That is not true.
This is the biggest thing,
The only thing to her.
I want to tell her
I know how to fix it
How to make it go away,
Make it better.
I know she believes
I should be able to do this.
But there is nothing.
No great epiphany is forthcoming.
I can hear her crying in her room upstairs.
I am crying with her, for her.
My heart bleeds.
In the end, I go to her
I offer the only comfort I am able.
I lie down beside her,
Hold her close as she cries.
I say nothing,
There are no words
To convey what I feel.
I offer what I have,
My love,
My nearness
Most of all,
My strength.
And I pray
That it is enough.

by L.L. Shannon ©2008