A Poem for My Peers

I finished my finals today, everything is in, and now the waiting begins. I graduate in three days. Most of my friends are pretty excited, but I'll be honest, I don't know what I feel. I do know that I'm close to tears a lot of these days, and that makes me ashamed. Experience though, has taught me that in those moments I feel most alone, I am most human, the most easily identified with. So, for those who are graduating with me in a few days, or graduating in a year, or at all, or if you feel sorrow for reasons you cannot explain: You are not alone.

This poem is for my peers,

provided they actually

are my peers.

I say this not from bitterness,

only because my peers

are those who mourn,

and those not

in mourning

have no need of solace.

My peers,

I too, weep.

At this time, when all

around us seem

dazzled by

blessings and joy,

we sit,

we sit and weep,

weep for reasons

beyond our knowledge,

weep yet cannot say

what it is we mourn,

but that does not make

the tears less real,

nor the mourning less

profound.

I know there is nothing

I can say to you, my peer,

to lessen that pain

or stop those tears,

for when I look

inside my own heart,

I know I want nothing

more than for the mourning

to end in its own time,

not empty words from those

who cannot, will not know.

Why try to say

all things sorrowful are sad?

They are not,

for how much more beautiful

is my smile

when covered by tears.

My peers, do not

feel shame, I too,

your peer, feel emotions

other than joy,

you are not alone,

unless I am alone

and this letter never reaches

any peers.