ME, I’ve Never Looked Better
Just the other day
A friend just happened to say
My, you’re looking well
He’d forgotten about the ME hell
We’d not seen each other for a while
So when he said it, I gave a smile
He meant it as a friendly greeting
The thing you say, when just meeting
A friendly hello was all it was
So I felt no anger, felt no cause
To say just how I really felt
That may have been below the belt
Or should I have told the truth
Told him of the pain
Explaining how the merest thing
Can be an energy drain
We have our doubters
The unthinking shouters
Those who think we live a lie
Thinking that they know it all
While inside we slowly die
How are we to spread the word
With a situation that’s so absurd
On the surface looking like a swan
While below, so much going on
Outward signs say we are well
So how are others supposed to tell
That the Russian doll shown to the world
Hides many layers that are so unfurled
If like an iceberg, so much is out of sight
How can we ever win this fight
When the strength we need is just not there
How the hell is this fight fair
So I may have looked ok that day
As so many of us do
But then not to be seen for a week or more
Should give some kind of clue
For every face out on the street
For everyone you chance to meet
They have a story, they have a life
You do not know their daily strife
The struggle to just be out that day
Making them feel like hell
Not faking being ill at all
But faking being well
Invisible illness does exist
And it is my most sincere wish
That everyone starts to take a look
Beyond the cover of this book
If friends and family can distrust
Then education is a must
How are we to be validated
With medical education so outdated
Although Invisible illness needs explaining
We still don’t have any worthwhile training
But if this plea is to go unheeded
Something major is surely needed
Something we all can all afford
Something that might just strike a chord
What about something really drastic
Something really so fantastic
What if we all just take a vow
To just be kinder, from here, from now.
Bill Clayton
©2019