Introvert

my attempt to express what its like to be an introvert working in customer service

 

Voices like hands

Tighten around my soul

Ringing out the breath of life

Til I am left

A shambles of rags

Waifishly mopping

Up my anxiety

With painted expressions.

I sink and slip

Through my door

And grab

Fistful of silence

Devouring the stillness

Til there is meat on my gaunt ribs

Til my facade is faded

And the blemished perfection shines

Licking the quiet off my fingers

I savor the fleeting taste of clarity. 

Reviews

[dan]

Crystal, I am sorry to have taken so long to review this, now moreso that I know the quality of the write. I think I've told you before that you have a distinct style to your writing...not sameness, just clearly unique. You choices of words to complete thoughts are not the common way to go but they always work brilliantly. "Licking the quiet off my fingers I savor the fleeting taste of clarity." A great line, to be sure, but I think that inserting the word 'fleeting' imbues the line with a sense of urgency, a jolt of 'hurry!' I'm saving this in my library favorites, so thank you for that! take care...dan

[Johnny]

hhhmm I am picking up on ideas of finesse and savagery.. "licking the quiet off my fingers" yes like as if the silence is a sweet marinade.. great work!

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

I never actually imagined that an introvert has to suffer this bad to survive simple social encounters.
Loved the flow, metaphors and the imagery!

[terry smith]

Clarity has no calories :)

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmingham]

Dont i know it :) thank you for the review

[terry smith]

You changed this...my previous comment no longer made any sense,lol:)

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmingham]

did i? I dont think i did.

[AaronFreitas]

Awesome descriptions... really explains exactly how you feel! I loved it... good work :)

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmingham]

Thank you Aaron

[Robert]

Crystal , your expression here is heart felt and heart telling. I am an introvert by nature but have unlocked the doors to it and became free of being trapped behind it. Start slowly but put yourself out there a little bit at a time and you will become more confident. Have you ever watched people dance and think to yourself, I wish I could be like that? Everyone that is not dancing is thinking the same thing. The people that are dancing aren't paying attention to the people that aren't dancing, because they are having too much fun. I decided I didn't want to be a wallflower anymore and am dancing. Nothing wrong with being an introvert if you are happy though. "If something makes you happy what else could you ask for or should you ask for?"

[Not here]

that sounds pretty terrible. but you did a great job with the poem, so thats good.

[Tks]

"Licking the quiet off my fingers, I savor the fleeting taste of clarity"
"blemished perfection"

Now these lines really expressed to me your true feelings...how well you have wrapped your emotions around your words. They really are resonating well with me, and I have learnt a new way of expressing myself from you, thank you!

[the Game Master]

I feel the struggle of introverts forced to make conversations to strangers; more so, forced to entertain a variety of people (who needs help, who is angry, who is lost, etc...) just because we have no other choice. I hope you'll still find meaning to get on with it. Now for the Poem-criticism part, it's decent. Although you need to work on your play of words because it's not consistent. Building up for the climax was there so + points for you.

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmingham]

I don't really write for others but thanks for the feedback.

[the Game Master]

Don't mention it, a game master always loves to sniff around and enjoy the show from the shadows.

[Emily]

Very nice poems!
Keep it up!!

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmingham]

Thanks! I really appreciate the review