Depression - 6. Tell Me How

Tell me how to smile
When so many tears have fallen from my eyes

that I fear I must surely drown the world

Tell me how to laugh
When all I feel is an overpowering urge

to bury myself in your shoulder and cry

Tell me how to deny
When all I know how to do is give,

even when the giving is destined to take, to leave someone empty

Tell me how to love
When every time I love someone is hurt,

someone cries, someone ends up leaving

Tell me how to breathe
when I feel myself suffocating

from the overwhelming closeness of everyone I love

Tell me how to let go
When all I can do is cling to those I love,

to hold them in my heart even when I should push them away

Tell me how to live
When all I want is to shut my eyes forever,

to slip into that cool, comforting blackness that is death