The Invisible Broken

​everyone notices 

when something is broken from outside,

a broken toy, a broken leg, 

a broken forehead,

when someone's hospitalized,

for a heart attack,

or bleeds from an accident

but do you ever notice,

when someone's broken from within,

of broken sleep, a broken life,

a broken heart, or a splintered soul,

when someone's wearing away,
biding his time through sleepless nights,
and not-happening days,

fighting destiny, 

right in front of you,
but without a drop of blood?

you can't not notice,

when the one in pain opens up,

or is, simply, in sight,

and the lucky ones get what they wished,

even as the thought shapes up,
in their thoughts,

as there's a someone
who's always kept them in their thoughts

but do you even notice

the one who coils back into shell,
every so often,
fighting the racing unformed tears,
and the invisible broken,
tired of life, and the unfair world,

yet puts up a smile,

even as he bears
the burden of destiny, in his heart,

and the brunt of merciless fate
on his shoulders,

day after day,

and still people envy him,

even for his stubborn smile?

​

© sashikant mohanty