Wallflower

A poem about shyness and the stigma attached to it.

Little wallflower at the back of the room

Sitting pretty, waiting to bloom

Watching the others in their gaiety

Dreaming of tiny steps to spontaneity 

If you have something to say, say it

But even when you do, you delay it

Sitting in the back all alone

Where have you hidden your backbone?

You wait it out until that perfect silence

The challenge, the defiance

Of delivering the right answer

When everyone else just stands there

But it seems it will never come

You’d rather they think you were dumb

Instead of watching the heads turn

And feeling your throat burn

And it has to be something meaningful

Something wise, beneficial

Because this is the leaf upturned

This is the incense finally burned

You must be wise and reveal a profound truth

Or the silent one will be seen as the dumb mute

But not too weird and different either

Or you might as well be having a seizure

As you speak there is such an unjust silence

And as you finish an applause and laughter like raw violence

For despite your careful wording

They will never pay attention to anything but asserting

Asserting, asserting is gold

Asserting yourself and being bold

Being confident, being nude

Being exposed, being rude

Even if you proved the professor wrong

Even if in three seconds you wrote a song

Even if you recited a hundred digits of Pi

All they care about is that you are speaking and that you were once shy

And that

my friends

is a spectacle

Author's Note

In this poem I reflect on my experiences as a "shy girl" in high school and in university.

One part of this poem talks about how difficult it is to participate in class and raise your hand. If you do they all stare at you and fall silent and if you don't you're dumb. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Reviews

[Brittany Zedalis]

I was extremely shy in high school. I am still shy in college, but not as badly. I had terrible anxiety when it came to talking or anything. This was really well written.

[Naomi Bloom]

Thank you! Glad you could relate. :)

[Denali Wolfe]

I like it very much! It reminds me of myself before going into high school. Your writing is elegant for the eye, simple for the mind, but more importantly, it conects to a wide variety of people!
I love it!

[Naomi Bloom]

Thanks a lot!

[Trigorin]

This is really not bad, and you've chosen a very relatable topic. You've hit all the right notes, I think, and you've definitely gotten your point across in a very gentle but firm manner. Well done.

[Naomi Bloom]

Thank you!

[icelandicblue]

A classroom is a stage unto itself and the fright of it can constrict you like a boa.

Well said.

[Naomi Bloom]

Thanks. :)

[Chidoriflower]

I like the intellectual intensity of this; it's very inspiring. You know the answer, but the pressure in the room is suffocating. To say simply, this is lovely. :)

[Naomi Bloom]

Thanks a lot! :)

[Chidoriflower]

You're very welcome! :D

[Eileenws]

You do a great job in getting your point across. Nicely done

[Naomi Bloom]

Thank you!