Do you understand..?

General Poetry Human Written by Stephanie Rice · Oct 12, 2026

Not everyone is okay, and I try my hardest to help them
Not all of them want help, and I understand that
But I don't want to see the people I care about leave this Earth forever
But I understand that it might happen and I might be the cause

You stay silent the whole time, for days, even weeks at a time
I ask are you alright and you respond dry, one word responses
When I try to have a conversation about it, you make it seem aggressive
Like I'm making you stay quiet because I voiced my concerns, my triggers

Then the texts, more aggressive, more defensive
Walking behind me, slower and slower day by day
You keep going at me, with the remarks and the so called "jokes"
Don't call me out of my name, but proceed to do other things to upset me

Tell me to have my fun even though I'm in class, studying
Studying to have a career, a job, a future
While you sit there, smoke, and say all these things that concern me
I've been sittin' here for too long, suffering, and it's unrecognizable to you

Tell me, what have I done wrong? What have I done to deserve straight silence
The room is quiet, but I know your mind isn't, I know you're thinking
What about? I'll probably never know, but eventually it will show
I'm always victim according to you, but you bring up situation after situation

Again and again, I tell you that I wasn't apart of it
Do you believe me? That's funny, isn't it? To believe me?
I try my hardest to make you happy, to make you feel wanted, happy
But now I sit here writing this poem, instead of venting to you

Cause venting is my way of "telling you to go silent"
I never said that. I don't know if you're letting words go over your head
Over your head and into a different part of the world
I'm upset, you comfort me one time, it happens again, I don't know anymore

I sing songs for you, try to get out my comfort zone, everything
I don't know if you're just naturally this way, but when we met it wasn't like that
It wasn't silence all the time, we talked. We laughed. Just enjoyed the company
We've both been hurt in the past, and I know it's hard to trust me

I know there's other girls that you could be talking to, you chose me
You chose me but who knows? You could be talking to others
You could be playing a game with me by claiming that others fucked it up
Ruined your mind for relationships and that's why you're protective

I want clingy. I thought you were that, but slowly I realize
I realize that you're affection slowly fades, day by day
You hug me less, kiss me no more than twice, I think I fucked up all the time
But then when it comes to wanting to die, you want to appear

Appear and try to talk me out of it. How long will it last? We'll see.
I suffer too much with mental disorders, and I know you suffer with depression
We can learn to heal together. Do you want that? I know I do.
But I don't want to force you to do something you aren't comfortable with

Love me? Sure. Hate me? Never said that. Go play, as you keep saying to me
But I'm taking the situation too literal? Okay. You just don't know
I overanalyze these situations so much, but you don't realize it seems
So when I ask you this one question, don't lie to me. Do you understand?

About This Poem

TW: contains mention of SH and other mental health topics.
This story is based on true events. People suffer and I understand that, including couples. Both partners might suffer but neither of them know how to calm the other. So we sit in silence. But sometimes silence isn't the right thing, cause then it leads to more intensity. Mental health is a serious thing and you might not realize but there might be certain things you're saying to people that might be triggering to them. Choose what you say wisely and have a discussion to understand what might trigger/upset your friends and loved ones.

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Poem Analysis

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Analysis Available

The poem captures the emotional turbulence and complexity of a strained relationship, marked by miscommunication and unreciprocated efforts to connect. It explores themes of mental health, love, and misunderstanding with a raw, conversational tone. While the poem effectively conveys the speaker's frustration and longing, it lacks the refinement and depth of more polished works.

Strengths

The poem effectively conveys the speaker's frustration and emotional turmoil, as seen in lines like 'I've been sittin' here for too long, suffering, and it's unrecognizable to you.'
The conversational tone and direct address create an intimate and personal atmosphere, particularly in lines such as 'Tell me, what have I done wrong?'
The poem addresses complex themes of mental health and relational dynamics, as evidenced by 'I suffer too much with mental disorders, and I know you suffer with depression.'

Areas for Improvement

The poem lacks structural cohesion, with a free-form approach that can feel disorganized and detracts from its impact.
Repetitive language and ideas, such as the recurring theme of silence and miscommunication, can make the poem feel redundant and less engaging.

Imagery

The poem relies more on direct expression of emotions rather than vivid imagery or metaphor. The visual language is sparse, with occasional sensory details like 'Walking behind me, slower and slower day by day' that evoke a sense of lethargy and distance. Metaphoric language is minimal, focusing instead on straightforward communication of the speaker's feelings.

Structure

The poem is written in free verse, lacking a consistent meter or rhyme scheme. This choice reflects the chaotic and unresolved nature of the relationship it describes. Line breaks are used to emphasize emotional pauses and shifts in tone, but the overall structure feels loose and somewhat unrefined, which may detract from the poem's potential impact.

Language & Craft

The diction is conversational and straightforward, which suits the poem's intimate and personal tone. There is a notable use of repetition, such as 'I try my hardest' and 'I know,' which underscores the speaker's desperation and frustration. However, the language lacks the precision and lyrical quality that might elevate the poem's emotional depth.

Emotional Impact

The poem succeeds in conveying the speaker's emotional distress and longing for connection, which may resonate with readers who have experienced similar relational challenges. However, the lack of nuanced imagery and structural cohesion might limit its emotional impact for some audiences.