I Lack Social Grace

[indar]

I Lack Social Grace

laugh too loud at subtle witticisms
dining out with friends,
become wildly intense during discussions
meant to be light-hearted,
arrive way early, over-eager,
before John and Marty have had a chance to dress
I am usually underdressed
unless I'm overdressed,
I forget the thing Elena told me
was supposed to be a secret, can't figure out
why she didn't want them to know that,
forget to take my shoes off
before I walk on Lillian's white carpet,
loudly state I hate raw onions
just before Hildy serves her onion salad,
a dish for which she claims she's famous.
I want badly to be liked
so I lay awake at night making plans
to be a different kind of person.

[Matty11]

  I recognise aspects of this person, my wife excuses me by saying I write poems

muchly enjoyed Linda

Phil

[indar]

Thanks Phil,

I thought there might be one or two readers who can relate to some degree. Thanks for the read, glad you enjoyed.

[Gyppo]

I thoroughly enjoyed this poem.

I think quite probably more than one or two of us will relate to this, Indar.  But the older I get the less inclined I feel to try and be a different kind of person. It's taken me years to get this far.   Sometimes we just have to embrace what we are and enjoy our own company. 

Gyppo

[indar]

 Sometimes we just have to embrace what we are and enjoy our own company. 

You probably agree with me Gyppo, that people who appear to be perfect arouse my suspicions--what are they up to?

[Gyppo]

But who defines their perfection?  Them or you?  Often perfection  - like beauty - is in the eye of the beholder

Think of those couples who fight like cat and dog, but have been together for years, and who will seamlessly transfer to a united front if any third party dares to criticise either of them.  You could well argue they are perfect for each other.

Gyppo

[Colm Roe]

Tell your N not to try too hard Linda, Aristotle knew we are destined to
have a very small circle of friends, happiness requires us to find just
a few like-minded people and concentrate our efforts on them.
I liked this poem. Is it a re-post? Or did you write a similar poem a few years ago?
It has a familiar feel to it.

[indar]

Yes indeed Gyppo, but there's perfect as you describe it and "perfect" as practiced by someone who hides behind a façade

Thanks Colm. Nope it's brand new. I'll pass the word along:)

[AlienFlower]

Hi Linda,

The vignettes N finds herself in fill the poem with emotion. We can feel her torment; however, I'm a teacher. Looking at people, or ourselves, from a deficit viewpoint is only useful if we regard people as things you can "fix" like a toaster. I much prefer descriptions of strengths—you can build a whole world on that!

Jackie

[indar]

Thank you Jackie, for a thoughtful response to this poem. I believe in positive reinforcement, in self affirmation and self acceptance. The lines of this poem should elicit exactly the response you write about. I often write something opposite my beliefs for that effect. I do not see these aspects of the N's character as negative however, only the N does.