Brave Face

By jennifer

Mon, 19 Feb 2018
  • 1363 reads
4 comments
 

Brave Face (19/02/2018)

 

Belt up, enough’s enough,

Got some lumps in your throat?

That must be tough.

 

Calm down, choke back the tears,

Want the sympathy vote?

You’ll meet deaf ears.

 

Chill out, just get a grip,

Pull yourself together,

Get on with it.

 

Don’t cry, keep your chin high,

Turn your frown upside down,

See the blind eye?

 

Cool off, compose yourself,

If the bookshop’s open,

Buy some Self Help.

 

Hush now, give it a rest,

Absorb the weight back down

Into your chest.

 

False smile, or you might find,

That crocodiles and wolves

Spring straight to mind.

 

Brave face, that’s how to mend,

Take that heart off your sleeve,

And just pretend.

 

Wise words: this too shall pass,

For what doesn’t kill you

Becomes your mask.

 

Clichés: Time heals all hurt,

The pain will fade away,

Or pills should work.

 

Jennifer Pickup

Certificate U
Poem
Exorcisms (2018-2020)
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

 A little shared empathy goes a long way, and one can find the offerer is glad of quiet encouragement of understanding too. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Ewan on

looking forward to reading more

Ewan

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Horribly true.  Never let anyone see you are "vulnerable". The brisk rhythm you have here helps with the point of view you satirise so well here

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Agree with Di, I know that if I 'act ok' and mix with people who seem ok then if I need help I will get it through the give and take of friendship. If I act like I am a person who is in need of help then I get nowt. A bit of plasticky chat from paid workers and a circle of 'friends' who are comfy sitting around sharing tales of woe but won't move a muscle to help a friend in need because they are too self absorbed. Disclosure works for me too but I judge the timing with care.

Self help books help the author - all the way to the bank.