Inside

inside
i'm still the same boy
my mother knew.
full
of love
and mischief. shy and
quiet.
i'm still the same
soul
she held at night,
read to
and prayed with.
a wise guy,
a tease. but sensitive
and sad
for anything or anyone
that hurts.
i'm that boy now, same
as before.
same as I've ever been,
but the world has
taken its toll
and it's hard to find
me, to see
what isn't seen.