Confidence vanished, she shrinks,
Lost faith, too tired to seek.
Yet she smiles, concealing the pain,
Each chuckle a mask for the strain.
Unseen battles, daily she fights,
Posting humor, hiding the nights.
Readers cheer, unaware of tears,
Behind the screen, masked fears.
Garmented in composure, she bleeds,
Depression wears thorns, her soul it feeds.
Closed curtains, lights dim,
Hugging her pillow, a silent whim.
A facade of worth, ‘not good enough,’
Yet you call her a genius, a bluff.
Unseen struggles, you overlook,
She is drowning, but you are off the hook.
The maze of darkness, no way out,
Thicker haze, the sun in doubt.
You claim ignorance, but should you try,
You would see the pain beneath her sky.
When she leaves, your tears will flow,
You will cry and whisper, ‘I did not know’.
Burial clothes, a long tribute too late,
Beautiful lies, sealing her fate.
Your actions, your words, weigh heavy,
A forever bow, deadly chills so steady.
Depression’s grip, unseen, unknown,
Online applause, the only tone.
All you see is the impressive guise,
Not the soul trapped in silent cries.
You really do not know, it seems,
The difference between dreams and screams.
© Ifedolapo Ogunniyi
Ifedolapo Ogunniyi 