To See You Hurting Poem by Angela Bontle Ditumiso

I want to come closer
Offer you my shoulder
I want to come near
And give you an ear
I can't handle the muffles I hear

The emotional cries for help
I just can't just stand here
While you sitting far away
Sniffling
Trying to look for a way out
Struggling on your own

You want a way to relieve the pain
Desperate for aid
Because your problems won't fade
Needing somebody to take heed
Listen without judging
To give you good advise

But I'm still nursing the cicatrices
Resulting from the hydrochloric acid you threw
I think there's still some residue
Because my skin won't stop burning
Or is it your words that got my mind churning

You confessed
The world got you oppressed
And now you're depressed
I don't want to see you hurting
I don't want to see you helpless
I don't want to see you hopeless
But I'm scared to approach you

I know the kind of words you can spew
What can I do?
How do I help from a distance?
I can't help but give a stance
Because I'm really scared of you
And yet I don't want to see you hurting
I never wish for you to be dressed with melancholy and despondency
What am I to do?