Beneath the Chill

Although I seem quiet and calm A storm is raging within me My silence hides fears, deep and strong Like a duck - smooth on the surface Underneath? Paddling with a sense of purpose Each day, I grapple with inner chaos My heart cries out in silence Unheard by others Battling waves of uncertainty and agony I strive to hold it all together, even as I fall apart You might not see the war within Where hope and fear play strings My calm persona is a mask I wear Hiding screams I cannot share In this quiet, ceaseless fight I am drowning, far from everyone