Insidious Praise
Insidious Praise
She’s dying inside
Not sure how to cope
The fear bubbles up and over
Will I get through today
Why am I here
What is wrong with me
The anxiety keeps her docile
The adrenaline, awake
No-one sees the pain
“She seems fine”, they say
And in little bits, she is
But there is a cost
“Just try your best!”
Well, what if you already are
And still it’s not enough
She gives it all she’s got
Just to get through
Those around her beam and smile
They don’t really see her
And of course they never ask
They see what they want to see
“You’re doing so much better!”
The words make her cringe
And pull further inside
Praise cuts like a knife,
When it’s counter to what’s real
Widens the isolation gap
Would concern be so hard?
But they have their own fears
So everyone keeps plugging on
It’s Monday again
Where did the weekend go?
She’ll do her best, it’s what she does
Copyright 2007, Lisa Stroyan