How You Made Me Feel (a poem)
Constantly,
you made me question myself.
Relentlessly,
you told me I was not enough.
Constantly,
you made me question myself.
Relentlessly,
you told me I was not enough.
Remember the ones
you passed in the hall
never stopping to talk
or know them at all?
The awkward kid
who didn’t fit in
tried to make friends
but just couldn’t win?
Sometimes I feel like a sheep in wolves clothing.
In our formative years,
we all change certain aspects of our behavior
in order to better fit in with others.
We all compromise in different ways
so we can ease tension with those around us.
We give up parts of ourselves,
thinking it will make things easier.
It seldom does.
(640 words)
Let not the darkness consume you,
nor live in a world without hope.
For trying to live such as they do,
will leave you to suffer alone.
Though starkly intimidated
perhaps overly concerned
with what others think
still I reach out to you
Creativity in search of comfort
If I open up and share
all my struggles, all my shame
Will it reach the others
giving hope, replacing pain?
If I am going to do this
I will have to give it my all
No holding back
No holding back
It is time to bear my soul
Time to open up and take a chance
‘cause without truth there can be no love
No real love
Wearing my mask,
you see what I let you.
Only showing,
what is acceptable.
I hold back the pain,
pretend it’s all roses.
Never let you see,
what’s under the surface.
Ever feel like that little kid
with their hands over their eyes,
hiding in plain sight?
© 2009-2025 E.L. Redwine