Small in stature she sits to appear even smaller, curling in on herself. Hoping no-one sees the insecurity, the truth in her smile. A smile that does not reach her eyes.
She imagines the scene with all the niceties stripped away. Silence in place of the lies. For aren't we taught not to say anything if we have nothing nice to say?
She holds her hands to her ears for the silence is deafening.
Linking up with imaginary garden with real toads and texture tuesday.
Linking up with imaginary garden with real toads and texture tuesday.
I love this. I have been this girl, often. And I love the photo!
ReplyDeleteThis is some deep psychology, Kathryn. The inability to express oneself freely is highly detrimental to a healthy mind, as you have shown in this portrait of fear and insecurity.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kerry, thank goodness for poetry and writing and as a form of expression.
DeleteIt's great to have an outlet called poetry, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteremarkable piece..you captured something I have struggled with at times... well done
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert, it's good to know I'm not alone.
Deletepowerful writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura
Deletewow its awesome write
ReplyDeleteThank you. :0)
DeleteWow. I know her, too. I have been her. You have captured her perfectly.
ReplyDeleteOh! the combination of insecurity and cynicism is not foreign to me and I love how you describe it--a deafening silence as the two impulses defeat each other, balance each other into stillness, the bent still body a force field to contain the battle without bolting! It helped to smoke. (That's a memory--I've been smoke free for 18 months.)
ReplyDeletewords are intense and powerful.........but detachment is sometimes needed to be face to face with self.........great write up.......
ReplyDeleteThanks Sumana, detachment is a powerful tool.
ReplyDeleteSilence can be deafening and one can feel lonely even in the crowd ~ Enjoyed the prose share Kathryn ~ Good evening to you ~
ReplyDeleteYour photo so expresses this lost in a sea of souls feel. I have felt this way-
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this void and know you are not alone!
mmm i feel for that girl..and arent we all a bit....so lonely in a world of crowded loneliness....losing our voice a bit at a time...
ReplyDeleteKathryn, thanks so much for linking to Real Toads. The mention of the smile that doesn't show in her eyes, yes... my daughter's graduation picture was like that. There is so much of Riley in this girl, alone in a crowd, not wanting to be noticed. So much of me, too. This resonates on so many levels. Thanks, Amy (a Toad)
ReplyDeleteAmy, whilst it's good to know I'm not alone, it's sad that so many can relate. Hope you're both able to find a smile that reaches your eyes. Hugs.
DeleteOh I know a girl like that too....content insignificant...I relate to this, it seems so many people aren't so interested in really getting to know someone else. So many false fronts, and so little time to wade through some of the BS. This is fabulous Kathryn!
ReplyDeleteah sometimes if we would strip away all that hasn't really to be said, the world indeed would be a much more quiet place.. i feel sad for the little girl..
ReplyDeleteKathryn, you describe the self-diminishment so well, with vivid words and images. I can imagine a little sort of anorexic girl. Your image is also very powerful. Thanks. k.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me the way you can capture personal pain in such truthful and honest ways in both your words and images.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brenda, someone just recently told me that I put too much out there. It's my way of having a voice when I can't find mine verbally. The good and the bad, the truth and the pain are a part of who I am.
DeleteCan surely relate to this girl...felt.
ReplyDelete