"she's quiet", they say
but she wasn't always this way
as a girl she could giggle, and chat and play
she'd play make believe, and would constantly sing
but she stopped
out of fear she wouldn't fit in
"she's just lazy", they'd retort
but she wasn't the sort
"she just doddles", "doesn't listen", "try harder", they'd retort
but she tried, and she tried, and she'd hide that she tried
she'd disguise her fight, to imbue them with pride
"she's so weird", they said
but that's just what she dread
she was trying, but trapped inside her own head
she felt shame like drowning, guilt like a knife
and rejection felt like the end of her life
"she's bubbly", they'd declare
blind to the mask that she'd wear
her thoughts, feelings, struggles, her burden to bear
keep her mind to herself, she began to believe
if she was bubbly, and lovely, then they wouldn't leave
"she's so nice", they'd suggest
nice is what she did best
just smile, and be pleasant, and keep them impressed
do what they want, and become what they need
lose yourself in the process, that's how you succeed
"she's boring", they'd insist
but her being had been missed
she was waiting to be granted permission to exist
she distrusted her abilities, her hobbies, her mind
she felt inadequate in the ways society's designed
"she's accomplished", they'd write
but not her, not quite
not gifted, just determined; she only knew how to fight
'cause she could have tried harder, undeserving to gloat
she wore her achievements in like a noose 'round her throat
"she's so anxious", they'd assert
she'd feign not to be hurt
she was overwhelmed, panicky, and hyper alert
she tried to stay organized, keep calm, talk slow
she just couldn't understand why her lows were so low
"she's quiet", they say
they still do, to this day
but now, in her twenties, she knows why she's this way
it was textbook, but took someone likeminded to see
that all along, her struggles were ADHD
YOU ARE READING
Unspoken Poetry
Poetry⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️ if any of the tagged things are sensitive to read about or makes you feel uncomfortable, please do not read! I'd hate to be the reason you feel either way.
