Let Babylon Burn - He Called It Tired

He'd practise telling someone, then hear how it would sound
And ask about their children when they finally came round
He knew who'd lost a father.
He knew who couldn't pay
There was always someone hurting, so he'd put his own away
“Fine” was getting hard to say.
“Tired” was close enough
A word that let him tell the truth without telling very much
He called it tired...
Such a little word
A whole life underneath it, and only that got heard
No sleep could reach the place in him that ached
He called it tired...
And stayed awake
At first, he liked the quiet.
No excuses.
No demands
Then he stopped making arrangements.
Then the others stopped asking his plans
He still sent birthday wishes.