I do many tasks for others
I teach students and work in an office
I am daughter of my father and my mother
Sister of a brother
Citizen of a country
I behave politely with others
No one is dissatisfied with me
Everyone loves to have me around
Wants me to sit with them for hours
Because I make them happy
With my kindness, with smiles
With lovely words
But sometimes I feel lonely
Very lonely!
No one makes me happy
With some kindness, smiles
And lovely words
My heart hurts inside
But my face shows happiness outside
It is the way of life
By S Anonymous
UN Photo/Sebastian Rich
This is a beautifully written poem that shows the disparity between what a caring person gives and receives — which is so often the case. The kind, dutiful person is taken for granted. I know it must be lonely but I hope you’ll one day have your kindness returned to you by someone — a friend or family member — who cares for you as much as you care for them.
The first Stanza of this poem describes the author as someone who has many identities; this is an effective opening for multiple reasons. The author goes on to talk about always being there for everyone in her life, but she feels as if there is no one there for her. The opening shows that having many relations does not mean having many connections. The first stanza is also relevant to the last one, which describes S as putting on a façade of happiness when she doesn’t actually feel that way. In her many identities none are real because of this fake show of being content. Her students, colleagues, family, and country all isolate her in one way or another. This poem represents the problem many women in Afghanistan and other places with extreme prejudice against women go through. They are forced and expected to continue their “duties” no matter the circumstance and receive no appreciation for what is done. Your good deeds will not go unnoticed, S, and someone will sacrifice for you the way you have for many others.
I was able to relate to this poem on a personal level. I know what it is like to work hard to help and please others and to not receive any appreciation. But, eventually, that appreciation does come and the loneliness does not last forever. Thank you for sharing this.
This poem shows an important juxtaposition between what it is to be helpful and what it is to be helped yourself. The bookending of the first phrase also being the last phrase echoes the cyclical nature of the subject matter. Thank you for sharing such a specific yet universal experience.
This was a beautiful poem that discussing people would not always be what you saw through their appearance. The poem talking about a woman who was seeing perfectly by her surrounding; people loved her to have the conversation, people liked to stay with her, she teaches the kids and being kind and polite to everyone. But behind the mask, she was a lonely person. No one she can talk to because she was being assumed a wonderful person. She has to be responsible for all these onerous duties, so she can’t take off the mask, using this pessimism thinking facing people who were around her. But always, if you are kind to other someday someone will also be kind to you, too.