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Summary

The poem "The Silent Calling" by Steph Thompson explores the internal struggle with anxiety and fear, depicted as an unheard scream that perpetually haunts the speaker.

Abstract

"The Silent Calling" is a poignant poem that delves into the depths of a person's battle with crippling anxiety and fear. Despite wearing a smile, the speaker harbors a profound sense of despair that manifests as a silent, yet deafening, internal dialogue. This dialogue, personified as a voice that no one else can hear, continuously whispers messages of defeat and hopelessness. The speaker's fear is rooted in the belief that this voice will never cease, trapping them in a cycle of negative thoughts. The poem, inspired by the Twitter prompt #pbf on the theme of fear, evolves to reflect the intertwined nature of fear and anxiety, suggesting that the latter often accompanies the former.

Opinions

  • The author conveys the suffocating and paralyzing effects of anxiety, likening it to a physical force that tightens around the speaker.
  • The poem suggests that anxiety can be an isolating experience, with the speaker's internal turmoil being invisible and inaudible to others.
  • The quote from Arthur Somers Roche emphasizes the idea that anxiety, if left unchecked, can dominate one's thoughts and mental landscape.
  • The acknowledgment of the Twitter prompt and its influence on the poem's creation indicates the author's engagement with the writing community and the collaborative nature of creative inspiration.
  • The poem implies that fear and anxiety are closely related, with one often feeding into the other, creating a complex emotional state.

The Silent Calling

A Poem

Photo by Ana Bregantin from Pexels

Far beneath the smile I’m wearing dwells a dark, morose despairing — frightening, tightening, choking me, a crippling anxiety

It screams the words no one can hear, a silent calling in my ear…

Give up, give in, you’ll never win.

My fear?

The voice will never end.

“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” ~Arthur Somers Roche

This poem was inspired by the word Fear (#pbf prompt hosted on Twitter by @JDGreysonwrites) though my words shaped into something more closely resembling anxiety. But then, oftentimes, the two go hand in hand.

Steph Thompson 2021

Poetry
Poem
Anxiety
Fear
Mental Health
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