Missing

When a part of you leaves and isn't coming back

What is sad is that

I feel nothing.

I was damaged so young

And when I was so vulnerable,

When love was a necessity,

A requirement,

A need;

Rather than a want.

I no longer feel anything

Other than anger,

Other than rage,

Other than emptiness.

Society deemed it necessary to feel sorrow,

So I wore the facade of sorrow,

The mask of mourning

Although was numb;

Inside and out.

In fact,

I relish the sorrow.

It is the only realm of emotion that I feel at home in,

Safe in.

It is a realm I have wandered so many times before

With leaden steps.

I know exactly what to say,

How to carry myself,

How to act

Without fear of reprisal.

But that is all it ever is;

An act.

In honesty,

Perhaps I have always been

Half a woman,

Half a person;

Half a soul.

Author's Note

I have never tried poetry before, but I like to challenge myself to new things. Please let me know what you think

Reviews

[ElizaB]

Hi Gwen,

You express and explore some deep emotions within this piece. I particularly liked the use of masks. It is true that each of us has many and often they are altered and changed daily for others, whether this be on a micro scale (so somebody close to us) or macro (societal demand) it is indeed a necessity in order for us all to function and simply live around each other.

If autobiographical or not your narrator has experience sorrow, seemingly from the beginning and by writing about it can one truly come to terms with all that shaped them and allow them to live (or perhaps exist) in the present.

Many thanks,
ELiza

[GwenLark]

Thanks for the review! X

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Again as my comments below still today I feel.
thanks for entry into the competition i ran, i like your writing a lot thanksx

[GwenLark]

Thanks so much for revisiting

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

i understood your poem and praise it, its very moving and deep
thanks so much for entering my greatest fear competition, take care, it was very good

[GwenLark]

Thank you so much

[Chellie]

This is so beautiful and moving to read. It speaks so true of mourning and grief. How after losing someone so important in your life, you seem to just forget how to feel. Everything is numb and you just kind of phone it in for everyone around you. And when the wave of overwhelming sadness and sorrow hit is is welcome because at least it is something besides the numbness. I absolutely love this.

[¿]

You nailed your poetry try!

If this stamina continues in you...you can be a strong person to fight with storms...as you got strengthend at the last..(I could feel)!!

[GwenLark]

Thank so much

[¿]

Welcomed already!😊

[Raghib]

loved the theme of the poem .
"Half a woman,

Half a person;

Half a soul."
loved these lines and the usage of half in a deep sense

[Aethelwyne]

So powerful! Especially the last verse!

[Rei Cn]

Not only is your writing great, but you are also good in conveying feelings through them. Powerful emotions put in this simple but elegant piece; who would have thought that you've never tried poetry before? You have this talent of reaching and moving your readers. Dear, you really are a natural.

Keep writing. :)

[Avia]

A good portrayal of emotions. Nicely written and moving.

[Gayle McMillan]

I so relate to this poem. It's a sad and yet wonderfully expressed work. I enjoy your writing style. Thank you for sharing this!

[GwenLark]

Thank you so much for reading.