What's Wrong With Me?

About

Inspired by a student's question, "What's Wrong With Me?" this poem reflects a shared journey of self-discovery and resilience. The student was told their struggles might stem from mental health challenges, but their story carried much more, including layers of abandonment, resilience, and yearning for understanding. In writing this, I blended their journey with my experiences of self-doubt and growth, creating a piece that speaks to anyone who has ever wondered about their worth in a world that feels so heavy. It's a shared reflection on pain, vulnerability, and finding strength.

Poem

Is there something wrong with me?

I’m unique: good or bad?

Sometimes, I’m hard to handle,

Through storms that leave me sad.

Abused, abandoned, feeling torn,

Wondering why I was ever born.

Am I important in this life?

I’m learning too fast, they say.

But my past won’t set my way.

What happened isn’t mine to own,

I’m not my faults, I’m how I’ve grown.

How I rise and try each day.

Is there something wrong with me?

I’ve built defenses, walls so high,

Pretending not to care,

Because caring makes me cry.

I laugh at others’ pain,

So mine won’t show or drain.

And I hurt myself to feel in control,

When inside, I lose my hold.

What kind of person am I?

Does no one understand?

A few do, but not many can.

Still, I try to grow within,

I start with being kind to me.

Is there something wrong with me?

I strive for better, but I fall,

Setbacks make me feel so small.

They say it’s normal, so I stay.

The race is long, I’ll find my way.

I need to breathe and take it slow,

Or else I’ll stumble as I go.

Is there something wrong with me?

I care for others, and say I’m fine,

But the pain inside, I hide behind.

I don’t want to be a weight,

So I wear a mask and hesitate.

But deep down, I wish someone

Would sincerely ask, and see I’m undone.

Is there something wrong with me?

Though some days I break,

It’s not my end.

Things will go wrong,

But I’ll stay strong,