A poignant poem about a strong and kind man, who masked tears, by Dr. Shailja, exclusively for Different Truths.

A man, he was, I think.
A pair of solid arms,
Swinging like bands of a rainbow to
Embrace me divinely.
Somewhat visible within
Inches of my consciousness,
Breathing by my breaths.
His breaths ran past the second, I hit my thresholds.
A man, he was, I think.
Treating my corpse with
Gentlemanly grace at my funeral.
Who else would put a woman’s needs first?
Whether or not I was alive,
His priority did not change.
Yet working hard to mask his tears,
(To match social expectations)
At the loss of his loved one.
The one carrying this ordeal of a task:
A man, he was, I think.
My man, he was, I know. 

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Dr. Shailja Sharma

Dr Shailja Sharma, a US mental health provider and multilingual author, has published widely in various literary journals and anthologies, in many literary journals/forums of repute across USA, Canada, UK, and Asia. Her book, “Dear Mama: An Immigrant’s Secret Cry,” by Setu, Pittsburgh, has been critically acclaimed and she was awarded a special literary honor for her contributions in international languages. Sharma’s work has been published nationally and internationally.