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Can You See Me

Josephine Gilbert 2003 (United States)

August 23 
Free verse
Past my clothes and makeup
beyond this painful smile
through these tired eyes
behind the cage around my heart

I am everything to no one,
a nobody to everyone
my body does not know peace
especially not in a two-piece

My love can barely be seen
definitely not heard
it will make me uncomfortable,
finding out you care

Though I want to be aware
even if I only just let you be there
never getting too close
just enough for you to still like my nose

About this poem

This poem is about feeling used, maybe even "used up", which can close you off from even those who want nothing more than to be there for you.

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Written on August 13, 2023

Submitted by Josephine20 on August 17, 2023

27 sec read
67

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXXX AABB XXXC CCXX
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 447
Words 91
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4
Full analysis for Can You See Me »

Josephine Gilbert

I grew up surrounded by an incredibly supportive family that allowed me to reach for the stars in anything I wanted to do. Family is the most essential thing in the world to me. Because of my upbringing, I can write with the excitement that someone is waiting to read it. more…

All Josephine Gilbert poems | Josephine Gilbert Books

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1 Comment
  • Vixility
    Vixility
    Took really brief notes on the August poems as I read through them. And although they don’t directly line up with your ‘about the poem’ comment, I thought I would still share them:

    “A poem about both external and internal insecurity with one’s self that goes unreconciled with a desire for romantic connection. The narrator begs to be seen and loved for the person she is internally and is cautiously aware of someone who might fit that criteria, someone she is reluctant to fully open up to.”

    Anyhow, though sad, I enjoyed the poem.     
    LikeReply7 months ago

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"Can You See Me" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/168011/can-you-see-me>.

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