Invisible Illnesses
A rhymed Sestina
If only they could look inside my mind-
maybe they’d see how much effort it takes,
to force a smile big enough to hide
the weight of these pains I carry each day.
I won’t let them close for I fear they’ll find
the fraudulent bliss I wear on my face.
They tell him fear is something he must face
those images will one day leave his mind,
still he’s haunted, stuck reliving that day,
He cannot escape that trauma he hides.
Sleepless nights, hours of rest terror takes
what if peace is something he’ll never find?
Barely bones, she dreads the number she finds-
two pounds gained and the tears pour down her face.
society’s standards control her mind
She starves so that she’ll be pretty some day.
But her sickness is getting hard to hide,
not sure how much more her body can take.
Enveloped in darkness, all joy it takes-
her heart beats without purpose she finds;
a list of regrets that she cannot face
will forever reside within her mind.
Can she suffer another lonely day
or will she act on these thoughts she hides?
Suffocating under the secrets he hides,
his guilt depends on the number he takes;
slowly killing himself but doesn’t mind-
he can’t even recognize his own face.
Washing his pain down with what he can find,
He begs God please make this his last day.
I wake and wonder who I’ll be today-
will my mania be easy to hide?
And do I have the energy it takes
to get myself out of troubles I find?
Creating issues I refuse to face,
forever I’m imprisoned to my own mind.
Take a glimpse inside our minds, walk with us just one day;
See what strength it takes to fight the battles we hide-
you may be shocked when you find illness doesn’t always have a face.
