I’m Speaking

Summary

KS Hernandez's "I’m Speaking" is a reflective poetic response to Lucy Dan's poem "Is This Your Voice? Your Idea?", exploring themes of self-identity, societal judgment, and personal growth.

Abstract

In "I’m Speaking," KS Hernandez addresses the impact of external perceptions and the journey to self-acceptance. The poem delves into the author's experience with being misunderstood and labeled due to their quiet demeanor, which is often misinterpreted as strange or sneaky. Hernandez recounts the pain of unsolicited commentary and the struggle against an internalized critical voice. However, through introspection and self-care, the author describes a transformative process of overcoming these challenges. The poem concludes with a realization that the judgments of others are more reflective of their own insecurities than the author's character. Hernandez credits Lucy Dan for inspiring this reflection and invites readers to engage with the original work that sparked this response.

Opinions

The author feels that societal expectations and commentary can be harsh and uncomprehending, particularly when they fail to recognize the author's personal journey and resilience.
There is a sense of betrayal and hurt from careless remarks made by people who do not truly understand the author's experiences.
The author acknowledges a period of self-doubt and silence, symbolized by a metaphorical "record button fixed," which represents the stifling of their true self.
A transformative "white fire" signifies the burning down of external negativity and the reclamation of the author's voice and identity.
The poem suggests that the true source of disappointment lies not within the author but within those who project their self-loathing onto others.
The author expresses gratitude towards Lucy Dan for prompting a deeper examination of self-perception and encouraging a poetic dialogue on the subject.
There is an invitation for readers to support the author by joining Medium, indicating the value the author places on community and reader engagement.

A response to “Is This Your Voice? Your Idea? by Lucy Dan.

can’t you talk? peculiarly quiet painfully bashful she stay up under you, Mac I don’t trust quiet strange, little girl too quiet, little girl sneaky, little girl

I’ve heard it all for as long as I could remember or care to recollect

sometimes cruel commentary on my being sprang from the lips of semi-strangers or

a well-meaning unwelcomed careless review with little comprehension for the life standing before them

who failed to understand that my survival was miraculous

unaware that my journey to the brink left me speechless

for a time

sheer callousness — or was it mercy that left the record button fixed

these words becoming the moniker of self-deprecation fused to my psyche

strange little girl — too quiet little girl sneaky little girl

then a slow white fire of my true self burned down that house of lies — from inside the one a thousand naysayers built to get to me

so that I could see that the disappointment in the little girl who made no sound was not of my doing but indeed the viewers own self-loathing

Thank you Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)for again challenging my self-perceptions. My response to “Is This Your Voice? Your Idea? Check it out below:

Care to join Medium? Your signing up through this link helps to support the author. https://kshernandez.medium.com/membership

Poetry + Self-Care

I’m Speaking

A response to “Is This Your Voice? Your Idea? by Lucy Dan.

Is This Your Voice? Your Idea?

a poem about that inner critic