A Cloak Woven in Pain

He smiled, said everything was alright
but the magnitude of loss 

permeated the air around him

his shoulders bent under 

the weight of the heavy coat

whose threads of pain 

crossed stitched and knotted

were dripping from open wounds 
scabs never healing the injury 

and in his smile the shortfall of hope
his eyes seeking the promise of a loving god
but each step crushed by this mantel of pain.