Good bye. Two words. Easily said
impossible to mend a ravaged soul
take a photo of grief she may hide in plain sight
a snapshot in time does not a story tell
one great smile and everything is assumed well
even we, reminiscing glaze over story’s end
maybe it’s for the best …
making memories to endear rather than ravage
such the way of humanity and its glitter ball
yet
beneath the smile, as bright as ever was
more luminous and beautiful perhaps
for undercurrent of savage sorrow
you were crawling out of your mind
it seems an offense to forget
under widest grins we suffer in silence
touched by the same unspeakable sin
of feeling too much in a world favoring compartments
for on the appointed day the photographer says
cheese! and on auto pilot I grin with every ounce of fake
afterward he exclaims, you can see the joy in your heart
it radiates
and sure enough
look closely you cannot tell
I am falling apart
I am coming undone
beneath the layers of my glimmering
it is spoken, smile! and you will feel better!
would that were true
a smile when you are sorrowful
one that cannot be seen through
often the ruin behind the glue
for all the world is a stage
people believe what is easy to convey
they never stop to look beneath
it is not what they wish to keep
in their collective memory
let’s be cheerful! Dismiss regret!
the sorrow we feel
welling under surface
must stay as secret lake
never admit
when you are the only person in a room
crying inside whilst outside you bloom
hello it’s good to meet you
hi there, it’s nice to see you
everyone says wow don’t you look great!
not aware when you get home you will
pluck out your eyes
made of stone
pull off the mask
kick off the shoes
tear down the dress
all the artifice
with no-one to hear your cry
for sorrow is never shared
it is a lonely lonely journey
suffered behind waves of denial
and you wish so much
someone would call you up and say
you were smiling in your photo today
but I saw a sadness beneath
can I come round and help you?
can I hold you when you cannot
breathe?
‘the ruin behind the glue’ says it all. We so often only see what we want to see, and a smile is happy, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right! Totally. Spot on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on wwwpalfitness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
TY my friend xo
LikeLike
Yw
LikeLike
This is an excellent picture of depression. Not only do others often find it difficult to recognise (and relate to), I do believe that depressives develop an astonishing ability to mask their emotional state from those around them. This is moving writing.
LikeLike
You have expressed sincerely the truth of life as it is. Behind each and every one of us- a heart yearns for the pain to go away. No longer wanting to parade around people and pretending that WE are fine when all is falling apart. Another fiery arrow has found its mark within- and MORE EMOTION ADDED TO THE LAST.
The bible explains – ”Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden- and I will give you rest”
I have been in this situation where no one could even begin to understand me! not that I could even open up my heart- due to rejection. I have sat in bed wondering if I would ever face another day. Even God at this point seemed so far away. Where could I go – but back to him and weep for a season- and ask that all my pain could be lifted. Even though I felt to pretend- it was safer- I could not escape from the love of Jesus. Even if I never felt it due to emotional hurt- he was present. If I never had Jesus to turn to – then what? I appreciate your words tonight- it reminded me that I and others -can overcome- TOGETHER. I also ache for reality and deep meaningful communication. Ciao.
LikeLike
Well, I could spend hours speaking with you about this, instead I hope ” well done” will suffice with the understanding that “I get it”
LikeLike
Marvelous ❤
LikeLike
“When you are the only person in the room…..” Over the years, I have learned to be just fine in most social situations. In advance, I set the timer on my inner clock, as I can only pretend for so long. Courteous introductions, brief conversations and an appearance which seems friendly and sincere. During those times, I am sincere and I appreciate the people I have met. Handshakes and hugs, maybe a kiss or two on the cheek and then it is time to go. There is a sad familiarity to my loneliness ….the clock ticks and I leave before anyone knows. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
LikeLike
Beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes because I’ve often had that wish at the end.
LikeLike
Your words are beautiful. I listened to this song many times this past summer trying to decide what to do. It was like my anthem.
LikeLike
Even the blank spaces between the words are moving. Sometimes people try to cheer us up but we don’t want to be painted upon in bright colors; we want something much simpler: to simply share the sadness that we carry, even if for a minute or two
LikeLike
As I have said before, you have a gift for putting into words what people feel but have not the words to say. The ever so lonely hours of sorrow and pain are filled with naught but silent tears and unuttered primal screams. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nailed it. Gorgeous. Painful.
LikeLike
Brilliant penned lines and awesome picture too.
LikeLike
So beautifully said, soulfully sad. I believe all of us can see a bit of ourselves in this. Hugs to you, my friend ❤
LikeLike
Another superb piece of telling it how it is.
LikeLike
You are a fortress that needs to fall and give way to forest.
LikeLike
You are a brilliant mind and soul, Shieldmaiden. This is superb and powerful. 💕
LikeLike
Ahh…sigh, had to catch my breath ღ
LikeLike
I have gone through this so many times. I love this so much because I can honestly understand where you are coming from. Just simply another beautiful piece done by a beautiful woman.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you sweet girl I am very grateful to you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
This brought tears to my eyes, it’s not easy to wear that mask. You have put it so well with your beautiful words, I am sure many people will relate to this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow thank you so much and again, I am delighted, to see you here once more, you were missed my friend
LikeLike
Such power and voice in each word, only you could do and produce such masterpieces
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes I feel overwhelmed with your kindness thank you M!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is my pleasure, I will try not to overwhelm you. The pleasure is all mine
LikeLiked by 1 person
So very sad, this one in particular.
Reminds me of people I knew who never pushed back or couldn’t.
“Can I come round and help you?”
Larry
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes so true – thank you Larry xo
LikeLike
I relate to this, Candice. But I think you already know that. x o x
LikeLiked by 2 people
My lovely friend xo
LikeLike
Ah yes. This is where the empaths come in because they see beneath the smiles and the veneer that’s so easily scratched away. They know, and they feel, no matter what mask you’re wearing. But I’ve been on the other side too where I’m the scintillating one in the room when really I’m screaming inside and I’ve come home despairing that nobody could see (HOW COULD THEY NOT SEE?) because I’m hardly likely to break down and tell them and show them the underside of the fabric, ragged and full of holes. Am I wrong thinking that people who are meant to care should be able to tell even if you fake it well? I suppose I judge everyone by my own standards which is unfair.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe it’s unfair but … BUT if you are suffering and if someone loves you – I’m with you .. shouldn’t they know? shouldn’t they see?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Living with Mental Illness and Chronic Disease and commented:
Please read another beautiful poem from THEFEATHEREDSLEEP
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much lovely friend for your support and encouragement
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have a way of reading my mind. And putting it into such beautiful words. I love reading your posts. Thank you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then I am so happy you feel that way my friend it means the world to me xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love!! I so wish someone could see the hurt behind my smile…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly! I think secretly anyone who is hurting wishes for this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Letting go with just two words can hurt like cutting off an arm.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You said it exactly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow! Such a moving and affecting piece Candice. Great writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dearest Mark thank you so much! I miss being at HA but I read all your posts and the others, it’s going from strength to strength
LikeLike
Thanks Candice. Yes things are going well at HA. I do miss your poetry over there though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you guys do a really brilliant job. I have not heard from Bebe nor see any work by her in a while though is she okay? i wrote her but did not hear back
LikeLiked by 1 person
No she hasn’t posted for a while but she’s fine and I’m sure she’ll be back soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person