Don’t Look Too Closely

A Poem

Photo by Pooya Sadeghi on Unsplash

i pass through people’s lives
as if i’m just a phantom being
looking for somewhere to haunt.

no one ever stops and stares.
no one ever takes a second glance.
no one ever looks back with interest.

and maybe i prefer it that way
because i couldn’t stand it at all
to see that look turn into disgust.

my presence fades into the background,
and i become a lingering spirit
well before my time.

my existence could blink in and out of being,
and there would be no disruption
to the universe’s workings.

life would continue on as normal,
and the world would breathe out
as if it were relieved to be rid of me.

does it sound sad?
does it sound wretched?
does it sound like a tragedy?

don’t pity me.
don’t tell me it’s not true.
don’t try to placate me.