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Chameleon Skin

Amy22Amy22 Posts: 5,681 Part of The Furniture
in Creative Corner
This chameleon skin I wear will eventually break and wear.
This chameleon skin I wear 24/7 hours of the day.
A mask to hide the true me inside.
You could say this skin is a cage.
Or is it really protection?
To protect against the horrors of the world and what's to come.
That fear of the deep unknown.
This chameleon skin I wear. It will always be there.
24 hours of the day.
Eventually it will wear down and break.
When exhaustion comes through.
And there is no more energy to mask or to hide anymore.
Just a person who likes pop culture and films

Comments

  • Sian321Sian321 Community Manager Posts: 3,200 Boards Guru
    Hey @Amy22 , thank you so much for posting this powerful poem. It is very evocative, and really captures that feeling of what its like living when your skin or your body feels like a cage you're trapped inside of, as well as a protection from the horrors outside too.

    It sounds exhausting, that tension, and I noticed you said that you sense the chameleon skin will wear down and break eventually. What do you imagine that might look like if or when that happens?
  • Amy22Amy22 Posts: 5,681 Part of The Furniture
    Sian321 wrote: »
    Hey @Amy22 , thank you so much for posting this powerful poem. It is very evocative, and really captures that feeling of what its like living when your skin or your body feels like a cage you're trapped inside of, as well as a protection from the horrors outside too.

    It sounds exhausting, that tension, and I noticed you said that you sense the chameleon skin will wear down and break eventually. What do you imagine that might look like if or when that happens?

    So I wrote this poem because it focuses on being neurodivergent and masking autism and stuff which I constantly do a lot. Especially as a female with autism, I find it hard being my most authentic self. I think when I wrote the line wear down and break, it means eventually all of the masking could lead to being burnt out overtime or it could imply that eventually I don't need to wear this chameleon skin anymore because one day I will feel comfortable in my own skin.
    Just a person who likes pop culture and films
  • sinead276sinead276 Posts: 2,290 Boards Champion
    what a gorgeous poem @Amy22 and also insightful as to how the words relate to your own feelings especially being a neurodivergent female in todays world. no matter what stage of your personal journey you are at, i'm sure the day you feel comfortable to be the true you will be an absolutely beautiful one for the world, however near or far that day is. you should be proud of yourself for the person you are today too, and how much you have grown and developed.

    Sending lots of hugs :3
  • Amy22Amy22 Posts: 5,681 Part of The Furniture
    Thank you so much @sinead276 that's very kind of you to say :smiley:
    Just a person who likes pop culture and films
  • NemuritaiNemuritai Posts: 741 Part of The Mix Family
    This is really good @Amy22, you're so talented :heart: I can completely relate to masking as an autistic person, and I know how draining it feels. I don't know if it's a common thing but since I've had to mask around people since I was little, I often feel like I don't know who I am or like I don't have a strong sense of self, since I have to put on a different act depending on who I talk to. I think the chameleon is a pretty accurate way to describe it, and I can imagine if chameleons thought like humans do, they might feel confused or unsure of what colour they are too.
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