Nancy Ann Creed

  Photo by  Annie Spratt  on  Unsplash A Silent Farewell I hide myself away, retreating from the world’s harsh light, To hide from those I fear, the shadows that invade the night. The whispers and the judging eyes, they pierce me to the core, So I draw the curtains closed, and lock the heavy door. I hide myself away, within this solitary keep, A silent farewell for now, while deeper secrets sleep. The silence of this self-made cell becomes a heavy shroud, I cried myself to sleep, a soundless weeping in the crowd. To hide and weep, my body shaking with the strain, To hide and weep, to wash away the bitter, throbbing pain. Each tear a wasted moment, falling in the deep, As promises I couldn’t keep haunt me while I sleep. A sharp regret now cuts the air: Why did I waste so much time? Consumed by baseless fear, an unforgivable, self-made crime. To fear what they say, the empty words that hold no weight, To let their careless judgments seal my solitary fate. I should have...

  Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com The Unspoken Question of Worth Am I a difficult person to be friends with? The question echoes in the lonely silence, A heavy query, weighted by repeated pain. I dissect each word, each passing glance, Seeking the flaw so visible to others' eyes, Yet stubbornly opaque, a shadow on my own stain. Am I too awkward, my presence a strain? Does nervousness stilt the practiced conversation? I rehearse the words, the balance I must find, To hold the moment, a calculated equation. But the words tumble out, a chaotic, hurried rush, Leaving the perfect moment behind. Am I too anxious, a constant, worrying hum? A fear of saying too much, of taking up space, Of simply being a burden, too large, too loud. This anxiety, palpable, a barrier I can't erase, A repellent field that pushes people away, Before a true connection is allowed. Do I forget to hold my tongue's sharp edge? I value honesty, perhaps too stark and free. I spea...