Don't Close Me
Stephanie Soyombo, age 15

‘Don't close me’ it whispers . . .
The window to your soul
The place where you seek solace
From problems new and old
‘Don’t close me’ it pleads once more
For how else will others hear
The symphony that’s being sung
By souls too close to tears
‘Don’t close me’ it shouts aloud
When hardening hearts grow cold
Once hurt, we fear to love again
And bitterly grow old.
‘Don’t close me’ it softly sings
A silent lullaby
A comfort for all the times
You close your eyes and sigh
‘Don’t close me’ it cries out in vain
That window to you soul
You’re losing it, stop and hide
When highs come down to lows
‘Don’t close me’ it shrieks in shock
As barriers are worn down
When one touch, one hug, or one kind word
Is enough to erase those frowns.
‘Don’t close me’ it whispers, one final time,
As others lose that connection with you
‘Remember this, please remember it well . . .
Open windows let the light shine through’
‘So, don’t close me’ it begs you,
‘Please, don’t be afraid –
For if you have the courage,
this will not be in vain
It is natural to feel, to want to
be as free as doves
So don’t close the window to your soul – it
enables us to love.’