Artificial Tears

“Artificial tears,” the bottle says.
I guess you’re meant to use them on the days
(they’re few and far between, it seems to me)
life doesn’t bring the real ones. Can it be
the need’s that common? Truly, I’m amazed.

Perhaps the copy should be thus rephrased—
“A tear-like liquid.” “Lubricating glaze.”
You think I’m crying, but it might just be
artificial tears.

You don’t dare weep; you know that it betrays
your broken heart, the emptiness that weighs
you down. The answer’s in this bottle, see,
they’re tidily contained and sorrow-free.
What dims the hungry crocodile’s gaze?
Artificial tears.