That Sneeze

4/9/2024
The sneeze no one notices
That effort unrecognized
The applause that never comes after a performance
pretending like everything is fine when it's not
Like that time you dropped a stack of papers
and everyone ignored you and just kept walking
Yeah... it's like that
Like that recurring dream where you yell and scream
but all that comes out is a whisper for help
no one can hear you
Like frantically waving through a one-way mirror
where everyone on the outside only sees themselves
never even wondering what may be on the other side
How can you expect others to listen when you don't listen to yourself?
The example you set is one of self-neglect and destruction
I've lived a life looking for someone to listen
Maybe someone out there is searching for the same thing
and maybe you'll find each other
And hopefully then your words
so desperate for willing ears will be heard
and hopefully you'll recognize the need
to listen as well as speak
Has living in the shadow of the sun
jaded you into believing nobody cares?
And in response you outwardly care too much?
Yet, as you sit there, and I sneeze
you never look up or offer a word
you, too, just pretend I'm not even there
I never wanted to be a magician as a child
but this disappearing act is a good one, but in reverse
how could I disappear when nobody was looking for me in the first place?