Coming Undone

What can you look forward to
Whenever your ambitions are all gone
What can you reach into the sky for
When your stars have all burned out

 

What can you dream about
When you don't have an imagination
What will you be able to expect
When you think all good things have passed

 

What is there left to hope for
When you've lost all hope
How do you manage to love others
When you aren't able to love yourself

 

How do you continue to smile
When you're crying inside
How can you possibly go on
When your zeal has been drained

 

How do you think I can help
When you won't let anyone in
How do you take care of others
When you can't support yourself

 

Excuse me if I sound repetitive
Or if I'm way out of line
But I'm only questioning how
You maintain your smile

Reviews

[Aehr]

"...What is there left to hope for
When you've lost all hope
How do you manage to love others
When you aren't able to love yourself..."

I can relate to this stanza a lot! As a matter of fact, its my favorite one in this poem. Well written and the message is very true. I really think like that sometimes. The last stanza was beautiful and true as well... and it sums up the whole poem really well. Excellent poem...
Gotta shelve this one!

[Lina Grey]

This is not the kind of poem I'd want to relate to myself, and yet I do. These are all the sorts of questions my best friends have been asking me for years. And, as an answer, I'd explain that I don't really maintain my smile. Oft it waivers, or disappears. Usually it's just a mask, but on the occasion that my smile's real it reminds of all the beauty I've lost, and rekindles my want to capture the light.
Your poem made me smile, a real smile, because it is honest and direct and made some sense of all these illogical loopholes and excuses people make about how they live with themselves when there's nothing left of them to live with. A brilliant piece. Thank you.

[Kes]

"How do you manage to love others
When you aren't able to love yourself"

Uh oh... It's never good when I see myself in possibly the saddest lines in a whole poem. Brilliant lines though, don't get me wrong. :)
You're a very talented writer. You've totally captured that feeling of either living a lie, or watching someone else living one. It's really painful and you've expressed it perfectly.
Keep up the hard work!
K

[eeoopig]

I'm like this at times - smiling, just to hide my real feelings. It's kind of like lying to myself, and believing those lies. I don't realise I'm only pretending to smile, until my cheeks start to hurt. good job

[Harley (arbiter)]

I like this I can relate a little and it was a Great write. Good job

[K-mo]

this is a very good poem, I love it

[Owlgirl]

Aw, powerful and sad, yet sweet and anxiety filled. I love this one, very well written.