POEM|In The Dark

I lie awake in the dark
with tears streaming down my face
and I hide my weakness 
by making silent noises 

I cry in the dark
Where no one can see me
to comfort me or try to ease my pain
because I don’t need a pity party

I wail in the dark
to cry as much as I want to
and I refuse to turn on the light
because tears are better shed in the dark

Mariam Shittu