Must be the Rain

Steel facade
forged by father's hands,
strength an iron act,
covering for inner child's
tissue paper heart.

Dam carefully controlled,
sorrow's waters
never allowed to flow,
fearing the stream will rust
the shield of one's
defiance armor.

Face carved
in stern concrete silence
eyes bearing the flame
of resolve,
being the knight,
warrior and victor
if only in one's mind.

When night smothers
the sky of pretense,
all the ghosts scream
their failure memories,
voice whispers cry, "mommy"
so no one else can hear.

Reservoir of suppression
ruptures,
single saline droplet
appears on the cheek,
trying to save face
by claiming,
must be the rain.