Have You Ever Felt...

Have you ever felt

On the edge of life but not quite part of it?

Like happiness is at your fingertips

But just beyond your grasp?

 

Have you ever felt

That you were looking in

From a cold night

Through a lighted window

At a warm room

Where smiling people

Share a meal and a drink,

Music and affectionate companionship?

That maybe you could go inside,

Be a part of it,

If only you had the courage

To ring the damn doorbell?

 

Have you ever felt like a child

In a world full of grownups

All beautiful and accomplished,

Intelligent and articulate?

That anything you have to say

Is so elementary to them?

That to them inevitably

You are only a child?

 

An orphaned child

Who never has and never will know

The love and warmth of family?

Have you wondered how much

You’ll ever truly matter to another?

How much you can accomplish in life?

 

If you understand what I say,

You know how easy it is to despair.

You learn to function despite those demons

You and I share.

You keep a stiff upper lip.

You carry on, but they’re always there.

The darkness resurfaces now and then

And you don’t even know why.

I wish I could meet and talk with you

And together we could keep them at bay.

 

If you don’t understand,

And I hope you never do,

Sympathize and be kind because

You never know what lies

Deep beneath the surface

Of those you encounter on any ordinary day.

Reviews

[Adam Adams]

Such a "humanitarian" write!

Thought provoking stuff, it is that speaks the heart very well. You envision the shades, the moments, the scenario & the perspectives of vast world to your very eyes & nicely so smoothly let it leap down in words form the walls - the corners of your creative head. Lovely. You show a very heartfelt through realistic scenario of world... in ... through words. Excellent job!

My fav. line:

If you understand what I say,
You know how easy it is to despair.

Ah... so much and many things you creatively say in such ... few evocative lines. If the world underestimates or ain't understand what's meant to be understood then it'll never understand what's made to be worth or valued: "Humanity". Brilliant!

[Jennie Baron]

Wow! This review made my day. It means so much more than reviews that say little more than "I liked it." Actually, I don't know how much credit I can take for this one because it came to me so easily... But such a wonderful review is much appreciated!

[Becky Villareal]

If this came easily, it's because it came straight from your heart. Write on!

[Jennie Baron]

Thank you so much, Becky! It was good to meet you at the writers' group and a pleasant surprise to see you here. And I'm so pleased at your kind review. If you post some writing here, send me a read request. Or message me on Facebook, or I believe you mentioned you were on LinkedIn? I hope to get some chapters of my novel on the Cafe soon, too.

[Becky Villareal]

It was nice to meet you too. I will be posting things here as well. Take care.

[Angad Waraich]

Well I am sure almost all of us if not all of us can relate to some part or the other.Such a pleasant read.
I am so glad i found this piece.
Loved this part-
"Have you ever felt like a child
In a world full of grownups
All beautiful and accomplished,
Intelligent and articulate?
That anything you have to say
Is so elementary to them?
That to them inevitably
You are only a child?"

Well done.
Thank you for sharing.
Angad

[Jennie Baron]

You are very welcome, and thank you for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you liked it.

[Angad Waraich]

You're most welcome.

[Pryde Foltz]

If you understand what I say,
You know how easy it is to despair.
You learn to function despite those demons
You and I share.
You keep a stiff upper lip.
You carry on, but they’re always there.
The darkness resurfaces now and then
And you don’t even know why.
I wish I could meet and talk with you
And together we could keep them at bay.

Jennie … I understand completely. For me learning to just not think helps. A quiet mind as they. This was a very effective and relatable write for me. Excellent work.

[Jennie Baron]

Keeping a quiet mind and not overthinking it...something I'm still learning to do! I'm so glad you liked this poem; it means a lot coming from someone whose poetry is so great. Many thanks, Pryde.

[Oddesy]

This resonates very much with me and what I have felt in the past . I enjoy your writing very much,it is easy to follow. We all have those silent demons, where it is so easy for people to judge without knowing the entire story :)

[Jennie Baron]

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! It's always gratifying when your writing resonates with the reader.

[Rita L. Sev]

Have you ever felt like a child
In a world full of grownups...

You have touched on something that so many of us feel, at one time or another. Wanting to take part, yet so unsure... I say, walk right in and speak your mind; in the end we regret the chances we didn't take more than the ones we did. :)

[Jennie Baron]

You are so right! I'm glad you read this.

[Sami Khalil]

I have felt all of those to be honest at some time or another. You do move us with this truth of the human condition. Excellent...:)........................

[Jennie Baron]

I'm surprised how many people related to this and gratified that it says something to them. Thanks so much, mon ami!

[Sami Khalil]

Very relatable. You are welcome...:).....................

[AprilRN1210]

I am sure most of us can relate- on some level- to one or all of the different insecurities, doubts, shortcomings, feelings, and thoughts that you touched on in this lovely thought-provoking, deeply moving piece.. the vivid imagery mixed with the depth of emotion packed quite a punch.. I loved the way you ended with such a positive, uplifting lesson.. People do need to stop and look sometimes.. you never know what you mind find.. awesome writing as usual..

[Jennie Baron]

Aw, thanks, April, for your reading and support. I'm glad the emotion comes through, although I admit at the time I was wallowing in self-pity just a little. The good words are much appreciated coming from such a fantastic poet.

[AprilRN1210]

we all wallow there sometimes.. as long as you don't stay.. thank you, that is very sweet.. it was my pleasure..

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Oh I can say yes on all accounts… that is why we should never judge another for we do not know what their demons are telling them to do. We all have them and those who say they don't are just trying to fool themselves.

[Jennie Baron]

I always appreciate your reading, reviews and support, Cowboy.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

I always enjoy reading your thoughts in poetic form.

[olla]

yep.. been there to may times to count.. we all have our moments.. your words are true and pure.. spoken from the heart.. what better poetry can there be...

[Jennie Baron]

Thank you so much for reading, Olla, and for the kind review!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i agree with sympathizing and being kind...isn't enough of that..

as far as the first three stanzas? the answers are "yes" "yes" and "emphatically yes"---
you absolutely wrote me in this poem...

thank you.

jacob

[Jennie Baron]

It's always gratifying when someone relates to my words, of course, and your review is encouraging. I was by myself and having a personal pity party, and this is darker than my usual upbeat writing, so I wasn't sure how it would be received.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Jenny,
i am 64 and still feel that i have never really grown up...there is that kid in me no one understands...and there is still that college student hippy freak from the sixties who feels so out of place in this current decade, have for years...maybe the poet in me feels he just never really fits into the normal world....i think many will relate to this...
what did sylvia plath say? one of my favorite quotes from a poet...she said "readers want to know from someone who has been there and felt the worst" ---she said we should let writers from the Ladies Home Journal blither about the happy stuff...
so true, i think.
the depth of this poem hits hard.

[Jennie Baron]

Thanks again, Jacob, for your insight and especially for the Plath quote.