:( I believe that you'll see the real smile oneday, and feel the real happiness too. Soo sad poem, perfectly written, but I hate it, for my own reasons;P

It is sometimes these poems that touch the heart more than others, the simple ones, that hold the emotion and I liked this one...maybe I felt it was a little short to really capture me, I wanted to read more, it sort of ended a little blunt in my opinion.

Still, you know I love you babe...and I did love this one.
x

I'm glad I know you because I know that this was just a write out of frustration....your smile never truly loses its shine, because even if you think you're faking it, it still touches peoples hearts. At least that's what your smile and laugh does for me.

Loved this poem. Very sadly expressed, but its always much needed to write something like this. Helps a poet feel a bit better even just for a few minutes.

God knows our heart and he is with us.
I know all about living a life in darkness and
nobody to hold me. I had to learn to try and smile, since there were not enough tears
left to cry.

If you are darkness then the word certainly needs a completely different definition... maybe you experience darkness, a worse one than I do, but you do not spread it... in the contrary. You inhale the darkness that the people around you feel and bring them light with your company and personality..and yes on times it probably suffocates you.

This poem is very genuine and although I do not know what went through your mind during the moment of writing it, I can tell that it was a heavy feeling, that your sincere self had to get out.

"Death is where I live"
^ I am sorry... I really am, I feel as though this is such a saddening and heartbreaking way to start a poem and knowing you somewhat makes it even more powerful. The way you worded it made it seem as though you do not only live there, but also bring it upon the people who get close to you... I thought that the contrast "death - live" was really present here and I want you to know that you are beautiful.

Indeed, you always have an open ear and welcoming arms for everyone in need ("the pale") and I am very grateful for that!

Again, this holds so much sadness that is hard to see you go through but then I know you can release this through writing and I am glad of that.

The darkness inn this poem feels like it has taken over you and like you tried so hard to fight it off but you often wonder if you have the strength to fight it anymore because it feels like the dark will win.

you feel you are there for others ( which you always are ) but you feel like there is not that in return for you. Perhaps this isn't because there is no one there to offer it, but more that you are too selfless to accept it and would rather protect them and not offload onto them.

Your smile will return again, but it is hard to smile when we spend so long smiling when we really want to cry and so our smile gets tired of being there permenantly and it needs a rest. Everyone can smile, but only we ourselves can feel when it is a genuine smile or a pretend one for other's sake.

Keep writing Maple.