INFJ
A Poem
You ask what’s wrong
Because I pull away
From the crowd.
You think I’m angry
Or hurt,
But I’m simply
Conserving energy.
You may find energy
And stimulation
In a crowd
But I’m the
Battery
That gets fed off of
By others.
You think I feel left out
Because I don’t participate,
But I don’t need to
“Belong”.
I want to be
Alone.
Alone
Doesn’t mean lonely.
It means I can
Relax
Rest
Recharge.
Crowds drain me
Parties exhaust me.
Just leave me
To my books;
I’m fine,
Really.
Being socially awkward
Is a way of life
For me.
Small talk is a skill
I’ve never quite
Mastered.
I want to know
What makes you tick,
Why you are
Who you are.
Not how your team did
Last weekend
Or discuss the
Weather.
I’m not a “doer”
I’m a “thinker”.
I may make you
Uncomfortable
With my intensity,
But that’s not
My intention.
I just don’t have
The energy
For shallow things.
If I can’t make a
Connection of
Meaningfulness with you,
I can’t afford
To expend
The energy.
Yes, I’m “highly sensitive”,
I’m likely to absorb
The feelings and emotions
Of others.
Like all that’s
Going on inside of me
Isn’t enough,
I get loaded down
With everyone
Else’s.
I can’t just shut out
My feelings,
And sometimes,
I can’t even shut out
Yours.
Systems overload.
I need a nap.
I’m shutting down.
It’s not that
I don’t care.
I care too much.
I take on
Your burdens,
But it’s not doing you
Any favours,
And it certainly
Isn’t doing any for
Me.
I take on a part of
You,
And give up
A chunk
Of
Me.
Cinette Santangelo