'I'm Okay, Too' Poem by MTHANDAZO SAMAL MKHWANANZI

I ask the men, with faces so bold,
'Are you okay? ' Their response, a story oft told.
'I'm okay, ' they say, with a nod and a grin,
But deep down, they're drowning, in a sea of pain within.

Their eyes, a window to their soul,
Conceal the turmoil, the emotions they've been told
To keep locked away, hidden from the light,
Lest they be seen as weak, and not quite right.

They hide behind masks, of strength and of pride,
Afraid to show weakness, afraid to step aside.
They're lost in a world, where emotions are taboo,
Where vulnerability's seen, as a weakness, not a clue.

But I see the cracks, in their armor so bright,
The faint lines of sorrow, the weight of their plight.
I hear the whispers, of their silent screams,
The echoes of their hearts, that beat with anxious dreams.

Their smiles, a disguise, for the pain they endure,
Their laughter, a distraction, from the tears they've stored.
They're searching for a way, to break free from the chains,
To shatter the illusion, and speak their truth, without the pains.

And so I ask again, with a gentle, knowing gaze,
'Are you okay? ' They nod, in a familiar, practiced way.
But I know the truth, that they're not okay,
Their pain is palpable, it's a weight they can't slay.

I feel your pain, and I'm okay too.