When did it become so hard,
To tell the truth,
And show our scars?
When did we decide that we,
Must hide our hurt,
Our pain,
And flee,
To distant lands,
Within our heads,
Emotions hidden,
Dulled and dead,
Never to be shared aloud,
Instead we’re silent,
Smiling,
Proud.
Proud of juggling life so well,
Proud we manage not to tell,
Proud our lives look good to all,
But pride’s what comes before a fall.
And so we hide hurt rather well,
But deep inside it starts to swell,
Until we’re taken with the tide,
Of all the things we tried to hide,
And then our secrets are no more,
Our problems spill upon the floor,
Seeping, sliding making mess,
Whilst others sidestep,
We confess,
We couldn’t manage any more.
We hid our scars but they’re still raw.
Pooky's Poems 
Love it, but when did we start to hide our pain? I guess it´s always been like that in some humans. Keeps us moving forward for some.
LikeLike
Thanks Charly – I guess I’ve just noticed more and more people hiding behind smily photos and positive facebook updates even when I know that’s not the true story at all. It worries me. ( I do it too… it’s like some kind of dance we do)
LikeLike
The dance of life.
I can´t smile on the photos! Unless someone is telling me a joke, but never could, even since little. Go figure, nice poem.
LikeLike
Pooky, I weep at the truth in this beautiful, honest poem. It may seem strange to call a poem about pain beautiful, but for me there’s great beauty in truth. The more we bring suffering into the light, the less those who come after us will feel compelled to hide theirs. Hidden suffering can eat away, become a cancer of the mind. In some cases it can metastasise and become terminal.
I don’t know if you share your poems as part of your work, but I feel your words have the ability to help others find their words. Your words are inspirational and they have the power to give others the ‘permission’ they need to share their truth. Some may sit with a poem for ages before they gain the courage to speak, but that’s ok. Your words may be the one thing someone has to hold onto.
Dear Pooky, I’m so glad you’re part of my life.
Tricia xx
LikeLike
Thank you Tricia. I don’t really know how to respond to be honest, except to say thank you. I really appreciate your kind words and the fact that you take the time to read every poem I write…
I have never considered sharing my poems as part of my work to be honest, though sometimes I write them to help me work through the feelings churned up by some of my harder work days (those are generally good days but it’s like my personal form of supervision I guess!)
xxx
p.s. I’m glad you’re part of mine too and I’m delighted to think of you tapping away on your newly fixed ipad 🙂
LikeLike
beautifully expressed. sadly so true for many.
LikeLike
thank you.. and yes it’s said. I always hope that by sharing thoughts like these that perhaps one less person will see a need to hide their scars tomorrow…
LikeLike
WOW! A very moving poem. Thank you for sharing.
I’m going to reblog this, if you don’t mind.
Therapy Girl x
LikeLike
I’d be honoured. Thank you! x
LikeLike
Reblogged. I’m starting up my own blog, and want to help others with mental health. Could you follow me on here, and on Twitter @therapygirl14 please?
LikeLike
Done and done. I’m going to go and take a look at your blog right now!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Therapy Girl's Blog and commented:
A moving poem that I have come across on this site.
LikeLike
Wonderful poem. So beautifully expressed…
LikeLike
Thank you so much x
LikeLike
we all hide because of out pride but it’s an amour. if we let people chip at it, we’d all be broken.
LikeLike
But the thing with armour is that you can be completely broken and crumpled inside but the armour will hold you rigid and tall giving everyone around you a false impression..
LikeLike
that’s true. but some semblance of stability sometimes lends you a hand before you finally realise that being open is more rewarding and giving, than you thought.
LikeLike
very true. I guess there’s a balance to be struck.
LikeLike
Thought provoking, as always. Reminded me of when my counsellor told something that about myself that I’d hidden for so long. She said “You’re scared most of the time, but you hide it well”. Nobody else has every observed that in me, or at least they haven’t told me 😉
LikeLike
Did you know that about yourself before the counsellor brought it to the surface?
LikeLike
Oh yes, I knew, but I nobody else had ever noticed – before or since!!
LikeLike
Clearly a remarkable counsellor in which case.
LikeLike
I dont like dangling on the end of someone else’s comment because it looks like I cant be bothered! But Tricia has said it all for me Pooky,and you have written this so well. It could be very freeing for someone who is strugling with all this stuff.
I like what you say about it being a form of personal supervision. I know,with my two daughters in the work they do, how important the supervision is so if you have an added source albeit from yourself that has to be a good thing xx
LikeLike
Thank you – Tricia often says it so well that I have no more to add!
Supervision is hugely important and a few months in I’ve got myself well-trained now. If in doubt, write it out….
LikeLike
Ah Pooky, what a personally pertinent poetic piece for peter! You have laid out what many fear to acknowledge. And the text with the picture you have selected is a really great summary.
For me, writing has helped me to start acknowledging this of myself. And certainly the feedback I receive from my closest friends when I do share my pain is very helpful and comforting. Because being vulnerable, opening oneself up by expressing these feelings, is a truth that most people will appreciate and respond to positively.
I will share this in the morning when it will get the largest exposure within my circles and encourage people to be real, acknowledge their hurt and to let it out a little.
LikeLike
Thank you Peter, I thought of you as I wrote this in fact. Though even in the short time I’ve known you I think you’ve become better at sharing when things are hard (though maybe that is more a fact of our increasing friendship).
LikeLike
Thankyou for saying so, and for thinking of me. I would agree with you. Receiving the support I have in being vulnerable with my self expression here has made it easier for me to do so more so, if you know what I mean!
LikeLike
Yes, I think I do as I have had a very similar experience.
It is one reason that I jump hard in the defense of the support it is possible to find online when people talk about the ‘toxic online culture’ as if that’s the only side to it.
LikeLike
Yes Pooky, she was very I insightful and helped me a lot
LikeLike
Pingback: Hidden scars | Otrazhenie