by A. M. Gilbert

Created on: July 09, 2010   Last Updated: July 12, 2010

My chest heaved, my eyes fluttered toward the sky -
I desperately avoided your eye -
I wished that I didn't hear you say,
"Hey, you seem a bit off today."

Yes, I'm off-kilter, my head's not straight;
you finally noticed just a second too late.
I tried to hide it but I'm not alright
and the tears are coming harder than I can fight.

I want to be back to normal, to what's fine,
I want my thoughts to seem like they're mine.
I need to get back on point, get back on the ball.
I'll get back on anything at all.

Do you know your words' impact?
Showing me that someone saw through the act,
letting me think I could start to heal,
quietly implying that it's okay to feel.

Oh, if only you had said it before,
when instead of addressing you chose to ignore,
when your tentative statement, a unique medication,
could have meant nothing less than my salvation.

But now everything changes, my whole world stops,
I go dizzy as my heavy heart drops.
I shake my head and I force a smile.
I tell you I'm fine and I swallow the bile.

Learn more about this author, A. M. Gilbert.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.