Affliction

In Collaboration with Mr. Writer (Shaan)

Affliction

I often ask myself why I'm like this...

why can I not look normal?

Why can't I be treated the same way as others?

Every time I go out, I feel eyes peering right at me.

I hear people say stuff about me;

that I was burnt alive and somehow survived...

but that is nowhere near the truth.

I have a syndrome, which causes all these problems.

These scars, however I want to forget,

brought anew with the 'normal people's' piercing looks.

And I'm forced to bow my head and walk in silence.

Every time I go out, my ears ring with insulting comments.

I look back at my parents and see 

the helplessness in their eyes; just unbearable.

Even they can't just do anything about it 'cause

it's inevitable the way I'm treated because of what I have.

And are these problems the only thing people will discuss about me?

Not about the times when I made a human-like smile?

Or when someone didn't clean their hand

with their shirt after shaking mine?

Will I have to always endure these taunting, stinging remarks?

Don't they see the tears just around the corners of my eyes

ready to flow, but I wish I was strong,

and didn't let the harsh words get to me.

With every single passing moment I'm forced 

to acknowledge how useless I am.

That I really am just an unworthy sight, not to be seen;

wishing that I was never born this way...

Will this depression and loneliness go on forever? 

Will this syndrome cost me my life? 

Well, I hope it does... 'cause, other than my family, 

no one will give a f*** about me...

Author's Note

About Nager syndrome which affects the development of face, hands and arms...

Reviews

[emmajoy]

Why does the average human being appreciate the outside cover more than the meaning within it? Strange how intelligent people fail to realise that the outer skin fades, often distorts, with age or, in this case, into the cruelty of a disease or a myriad of other loathsome effects.

Your collaboration is first class, rarely a jarring touch.. more a melting mix of deeply felt like minded emotions. More than generous in both content and writing.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I feel the same. Perhaps people think more superficially than they should...
thank you for your kind words here, dear Emma. As always, appreciated.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Very well written very thought provoking and sad good work

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Thank you for appreciating this collaborative effort.

[Sir Drift & Mr. Pulse]

This was touching, picturing how the life of those would be, and to imagine if it were you. It truly saddens the soul

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Exactly yes. Thank you for feeling this write, Sire.

[barleygirl]

Even tho you've written about a certain affliction (& thanks for enlightening us on this, as I'd never heard of it before) . . . this poem could apply to anyone who isn't physically like others . . . it could apply to a heavy person or a bipolar person or a person who walks gimpy like me. I like the way you capture details that really make this situation intensely felt by the reader:
"when someone didn't clean their hand
with their shirt after shaking mine?" So many true-to-life observations like that! *sigh!*

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I totally agree. It's a sad reality really that this situation is applicable to many.. thank you for your thoughts, BG.

[Jibey]

It's good for us to be made more aware of what many people feel. Loss of self-worth is a sad condition.

Well composed.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Thank you for your thoughts here and for appreciating this collab, Jibey.

[Donyay Thomas]

Some people can be cruel no one is perfect. You did a good job

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I agree. Thank you for your thoughts.

[Donyay Thomas]

You're welcome, i have the same cover as you

[Giulia King]

I got mad when I read this poem. Seriously, f**k people. F**k them and what they have to say.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Well of course, that's how it is. People are always like this...

[Priyanshi]

An amazing poem dealing with the effects of the syndrome... What a guy feels, when he suffers through it...very well penned it ,Yumna... beautiful use of words.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Thank you, Priyanshi, for your nice words here. This was a collaborative effort. Glad you like it 😊

[Priyanshi]

You're welcome Yumna.

[apennylate]

I had no idea... Strong message, and even stronger portrayal of sickening decay... Could barely slog through each line... Very heavy, very succinctly, almost vapidly worded... Which conveys a shadow of the hopelessness, restlessness, and absolute soul-breaking dejection that must be felt living with such a malady of the flesh... People will always give a f**k, and family is thicker than blood... Heh, absolute beauty of a collab'... Very emotionally penned...

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Thank you, Silente. Truly appreciate your words here. Glad you liked this collaborative effort 😊

[apennylate]

I did! Was my pleasure...

[Jes' Pi]

Hello.
Your poem is very emotional, and you showed the pain of a person with Nager syndrome.
The poem is good, but maybe it is too sad. You have should add something more positive in your poem, not just sadness.
Everyone's beautiful, even if some of us suffer from syndromes or things like that.
Our aspect shouldn't matter that much because our souls are the most important.

Not my favorite poem of yours. When you write sad poems, try to give them light. Remember, even in darkness you can find a light.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I agree, it's sad but that's the reality of life...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, Jes. Truly appreciate it 😊

[Jes' Pi]

Not all reality is sad, even sadness has a happy part if you know how to discover it.
Thank you too.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

That really is quite theoretical, I'd say...