Warning: Personal Space, Closed for Repairs
I suspect
the situation this post and poem attempts to reflect is probably familiar to
many if not most of us.
Overheard
in a café:
WOMAN:
Michael has been trying to get in touch with you. By all accounts, he’s in a
bit of a state. I gather his love life has turned turtle, the poor love.
MAN: No
surprises there then.
WOMAN: So
why aren’t you picking up or returning his calls?
MAN:
Because I have serious problems of my own at the moment. I really can't cope with Michael's until I sort my own.
WOMAN:
That is so selfish! It’s all right for you. You’re strong. You know how needy
poor Michael is.
MAN: Yes,
well, right now I’m needy too. I need to sort myself out, and I can’t do that if
I’m stuck with sorting Michael out...again.
WOMAN:
But, poor Michael...
MAN: Poor
Michael needs to grow up, and if you think he’s so needy, YOU go and sort him
out.
The man
left abruptly. The woman caught my eye, shrugged and sent her eyebrows into
overdrive while mouthing, ‘Some people!’ ...before returning to her snack.
My
sympathy was entirely with the man (I’m not being sexist either) having been
there myself many times.
Most of
us try to be there for our friends, bur some friends take us for granted.
We look around for someone to be there for us when we most need to talk to
someone about something that is tearing us apart...and there is no one there;
everyone is too busy with their own problems to even consider that we may have
problems of our own. After all, we are ‘strong’ and can take care of ourselves;
we don’t need anyone.
Well, the chances are they are so wrong, and one day they well may
look to their ‘strong’ friend for customary support only to discover that that
he or she has crumbled under the pressure of disillusionment and the convenient
corner shop is closed for repairs.
Some
people are naturally strong and others have strength thrust upon them by
personal battles hard won. But strong or less strong, we should never forget we
are all but human, and much the same
basic human needs apply to everyone. Sometimes we have to put our own needs first or we are likely to be of little use to anyone, least of all ourselves.
WARNING:
PERSONAL SPACE, CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
I am but
fragile
where
seen as firm, fearless,
appearing
strong,
no one
suspecting differently
until I
am stretched
as far as
nature will carry me,
only to
be exposed
for an
illusion of the kind
feeding
on dreams
I deceive
no one,
but try
to do the right thing
by family
and friends,
be there
at the right times,
lending a
shoulder
to cry
on, an ear to listen,
a take on
how things
might
change for the better
sooner or
later
I am but
human,
(with
needs, too, of my own)
that
often despairs
of
finding no one there
or
shoulder to cry on,
an ear to
listen (for long)
or take
on ending
this
feeling of endless freefall
into
empty words
I am the
friend
trying to
do the right thing,
at the
right times,
lend a
shoulder to cry on,
an ear to
listen,
provide a
take on how we
might set
about
changing
things for the better,
sooner or
later
Handle me
with care;
even
close friends can weary
of being
taken
for
granted time and again;
no
shoulder to cry on
or ear to
listen for needing
to take
up a little
of
someone else’s private space
closed
for repairs
Copyright
R. N. Taber 2012
Labels: crises, dependency, emotions, expectations, friendship, global consciousness, human nature, life, mind-body-spirit, nature, personal space, poetry, priorities, relationships, society, stress
posted by R. N. Taber | 11:01
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