Normal Person

A poem about social anxiety~

“Normal Person”

“Oh, hi!”

The words pierce my mind

You look like a normal person,

So why can’t I speak to you like one?

I’m searching my mind

For something to say

For even one word that I could muster

But time is draining,

Faster than it should.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t see.

I’m sweating-

And,

Later,

When I’m recalling the occurrence,

I won’t remember it at all

Because my world is spinning

And time is draining

And you’ll stare at me,

With your normal person eyes

You’ll think I’m not normal

Because what normal person can’t converse with other normal people?

My eyes search for a clock-

The second hand is spinning rapidly

One-

I choose the word.

It’s been carefully selected from a box labeled:

“What A Normal Person Would Say”

Two-

I open my mouth,

Making sure I’ll be able to flash a smile

Three-

I stop.

I think.

I open my eyes.

I smile my normal person smile.

I breathe.

Three, two, one-

“Hi.”

You smile back at me.

Was there a flash of worry in your mind?

Are you thinking what I was thinking?

Can you see?

Are you breathing?

Are you-

Not normal?

In a moment,

It will all happen again.

You’ll respond:

“What’s up?”

Just like a normal person would.

Author's Note

I do go through this very process when I talk to new people, and today, I had to speak to several people who go to school with me. They seemed so comfortable with themselves. But, I wondered if maybe the people I spoke to felt the very same way.

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha love your closing ..the irony is humorous tho the experience is not pleasant ;) and haven't we all felt such "normalcy" ... i can testify ... for most the worst of it dissipates with years ... i would also like to quote a wise man, Dale Carnegie, (you probably don't know who he is) "Take as many opportunities as you can to speak publicly." my children roll their eyes at me because they know all my favorite quotes from him ;) well said Silverink! very much enjoyed the experience of reading ... it has its own natural rhythm and posting the left hand margin always grabs my attention right away ... this is particularly expressive of every teenagers torture ... love the honesty!
E.

[SilverInk]

I´m glad you liked it, E!

[Anjali]

A normal person may be perceived differently by different people. For me, social anxiety and opening up with a complete stranger is a real thing. However, I'm up and looking forward to getting the whole world back to normalcy as before the pandemic so that I can meet and greet new people.

[barleygirl]

There are many poems posted here at the cafe to show anxiety or depression or other emotional issues. But this is truly one of the very best I've seen of this type of poem. This is the poster child for SHOW instead of tell (first rule of good writing). You put it out there exactly as one might feel it, so realistic, you put the reader in these shoes. Excellent depiction of the casual encounter, showing how this can have such huge proportions to someone with anxiety or other issues. The thing that stands out to me is JUDGMENT . . . this narrator is heavily judging which can be seen by the use of the word "normal" (what the hell is normal, really? I know you know that, but your poem shows how obsessed this narrator is about who is normal and who is not) . . . I believe this inner judge is the true villain here (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Akash gaikwad]

I guess I can feel your social anxiety because I also feel the same !!! But I am a funny so !!! Hello😊

[Sir Drift & Mr. Pulse]

What did you say was normal again? The eyes of others can only see what they wish. I know exactly how you feel, and us "artists" just don't have the same mind. So... It is a sad life.

[SilverInk]

If only it weren't so. Thanks for reading~~

[The Iron Horseman]

Lol! I feel for you, Silver!
Don't worry about it. Wasn't it the Boomtown Rats who said "The trouble with normal is it always gets worse'? :)
I don't believe there is any such thing as 'normal'. Everybody has their own definition of that word. Make up your own and go with it!

[SilverInk]

Haha, I completely agree! Thanks for reading~