Sonnet to a Teen Unknown
She faced the side as she stood in the street.
Her crossed arms held her tight against the cold,
yet she did glance at me, though not to greet,
with eyes so pained that they seemed hard and old.
Upon the sidewalk laughed a cocky man
in black leather with girls smiling around
aglow with warmth for cute comedians
as if no better friend was to be found.
I drove on by, her frown still in my eyes,
and words unsaid that I could wish to share
with one whose pain her strength did not disguise
for only love does keep us from despair.
Sometimes we want a hug and no one's there,
yet we ask not because we do not dare.
+ By John Rieping
Her crossed arms held her tight against the cold,
yet she did glance at me, though not to greet,
with eyes so pained that they seemed hard and old.
Upon the sidewalk laughed a cocky man
in black leather with girls smiling around
aglow with warmth for cute comedians
as if no better friend was to be found.
I drove on by, her frown still in my eyes,
and words unsaid that I could wish to share
with one whose pain her strength did not disguise
for only love does keep us from despair.
Sometimes we want a hug and no one's there,
yet we ask not because we do not dare.
+ By John Rieping
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