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Noticing

And it stings in the shower

Just the water running over

Let alone to wash it with soap

So you leave it alone

You tried to go around it before

But that only made it worse

And you can't wash above

Because it runs down into the cuts

So they notice the smudge

That was there yesterday

And didn't quite rub off

 

They wonder why

You don't take as long as you used to

And they notice that your body wash

Is still three quarters full

Even though you bought it six months ago

They wonder why then

If your soap is still full

And you don't shave in the shower

Why do you need more razors

When you just bought a pack

Not even a month ago

 

They noticed in summer

But now its winter so its okay

For you to wear long sleeve shirts everyday

You hid your t-shirts so you could tell them

That you had nothing else to wear

They noticed that you never went swimming

You sat on the beach or in the car

They begged you to come in

And said you lost your swimsuit again

Even though you knew exactly where it was

You just couldn't let them see your scars

 

They notice the smile on your face

But not the pain behind your eyes

And they don't care to see the fear

That they might find you out

Its easier for them to believe the lie

Than to face the truth

And help you

They would rather the easy way out

To live in ignorant bliss

Than to notice your scars and cuts

And ask you what was wrong

 

And eventually they stopped noticing

The no longer asked you

How your day went

They met your cries for help

With harsh words of get over it

And calling you an attention seeker

But that really is all you want

Is for someone to pay attention

To start noticing again

That you are not okay

And you can't just get over it

 

Too often do these things go unnoticed

Or they are mocked

As a cry for attention

And ignored as a call for help

Too soon do people end their lives

Because its easier for you

To live in ignorance

And not deal with it

They say ignorance is bliss

But it only is for you

Not for the people suffering everyday

 

So it is up to you and me

To break through the ignorance

And see the fear and pain in their eyes

Because if we don't say anything

Then they won't either

I know this because I've been there

And I still put on that mask

Because I was told to just get over it

But that only made it worse

The fact that I should be able to get over it

But I couldn't

 

So it is up to us

To see behind that mask

And ask someone if they are okay

To see the cuts and scars

And lend out a helping hand

Because if we don't then who will

We need to speak up for those too afraid

Of speaking for themselves

To make a point that it is not okay

Just to say get over it

And we need to start noticing

Request permission to use this poem
Written by
dustyn-smith
Canadian
Published
Nov 18, 2013
Lines·Words
88·546
Permission

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