Whispered Shadows

I hide in shadows cast by fear and shame,
Whispers spread, tarnishing my name.

Misunderstood,
Judged harshly by hearts austere,
By eyes so unkind,

That quickly glance, then shift quickly,
Leaving my heart behind.

A chronic ailment, the silent visitor,
Rests in my body, and disturbs my mind,

The battles I fight,
Waged in my mind and thought,
Invisible to others,

But in every pill I take and every tear I drop.
Stigma though, it weaves a silent snare,
Binding my spirit in a cloak of despair.

But my strength transcends mere physical plight,
It’s in my courage and the inner fight,

Navigating the shadows, battling unseen fears,
Building resilience through the hidden tears.

In these depths, I find my strength,
In the dark, I find my light,
To rise above, and go to greater lengths,

With a resilient mind,
For I am more than what they see,
I am a free spirit, a soul unbound from the chains.

With love and hope,
With hearts united, brave and bold,
Let us find our voices,
Let us lift the veil of shame,

See the person, not the condition,
Because together we can break the mold.

And say,
We stand together, come what may,

For in each other, hope can grow;
Our love can make shadows glow,
And heal the wounds that stigma sows.

—Kijumba Macquelyn