You Know Me But You Don't

* I'm posting first so no one else has to do it. You're welcome. :-)

The ready smile that lights a room
to expel your darkness
The extended hand, always available
to help when you fall
The kind words that flow so easily
to ease your pain

You see these parts of me

Never a complaint from my lips to your ears
Never hesitation to dry wayward tears
Never unsure how to comfort, calm your fears

You know only what I choose to show

Because how could I expose to you
the truth of who I am
Your solid rock is not so strong
I'm feeble to my core
And long sometimes to lay out bare
the burdens that weigh my steps...

...the bitter tears my smile will hide
...the tremor beneath my steady hand
...the sadness in my cheerful words

Still for now, I keep myself concealed

You see what I show, what I wish I could be
But you don't know me

*And no, this is not something I wrote about myself.