pinksubmergence:

to most, he was, the eloquent chap
who knew the best words to say
and the best way to say it
he smiled and laughed,
he made others smile and laugh
he kept friendships robust
and kept secrets as one must
to most, he was a warm spirit
bursting at the seam with affection
one who threw caution to the wind
one who cared little for grand attention -

yet behind this facade
the scenes were quite different
to me, he was a defiant man
who in quietude, battled his woes furiously
I was privy to a part of him
which was often shut out from most
I knew after the joke, came silence
in silence, he fought old ghosts
I saw what lied underneath
the introspective hood that was his eyes
exclusive to his other words and ways
I was the only threat to his disguise.