Her tears (The Pearl)

What fell from her eyes

was not a tear... 

it was a pearl,

long burdened,

tired of holding itself together.

It trembled on the edge of her lashes,

as if it knew

this was the moment

it was meant to fall.

Sliding slowly

down her soft, stone-like cheeks,

the pearl did not shine to be admired... 

it shone because it hurt.

She was anxious,

confused,

and every pearl seemed to whisper,

“I am heavy—

please, let me go.”

Then, only because of pain,

she held my hand,

gripped it tight.... 

as if even suffering

needed something solid to lean on.

And when it reached the end of her cheek,

the pearl paused,

caught the light,

and turned sorrow itself

into something unbearably beautiful.... 

as if pain, for a brief moment,

forgot how to be ugly.

-Rahul