This post might be a little raw for some but I hope it is illuminating to many.

Look at me!
Don’t stare but look!
You cannot see it, can you?
Of course you can’t!
For you see only what you want to see!
But if you linger for a moment, you may catch a glimpse –
Of the sullen crease on the edge of each beaming smile
Of the flamboyance in faked happiness
The exaggeration in sincerity
And the anger that swiftly follows joy
Look! Because my eyes cannot deceive
All wonder diminishes in their reflection
The light that once sparkled is all but gone
And pain is now my deepest secret
I defend it deligently with walls of sarcasm
And retreat to seclusion, as contingency
Yet each night the walls crumble and despair trickles in;
Taking a sliver of hope
Dousing an ember of love
And tainting a recluse of gratitude!
But still each morning I build those walls up again, reinforce them with pretence
And if you look–if you truly look, you’ll see a smile turn to grimace
A gaze to a glare
And hope into tears
Beyond our own preoccupation, a deeper sight dwells-
To see that reality, is not all that it may seem.
© judeitakali
Reena gave us the image-prompt tagged above, and asked us to list three words that came to mind, before composing a post. My three words were eye, secrets, reflection.
Feel free to share any and all thoughts about this.
Stay safe everyone, stay loving.
63 responses to “Eye of depression #MentalAwareness”
You described it very well, Jude. It is important we look closely and be more aware. It’s always good to check in on people and even check ourselves. Well written my friend.
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Thanks Michaela. I agree that we always have to check ourselves as well. 💜
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The last lines are so poignant Jude.
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Thanks Sadje. I’m glad they say something to you. 🙏🏾💜
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You’re welcome my friend
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Loved it. It describes so well of a person who looks strong but is mentally drained yet still smiles like nothings wrong in their life, like you say the one’s who can look through their eyes are the only one who can truly know how they feel.
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Thank you Daphny. I believe in “it’s our world” not “it’s my world” because even when secluded from people, we have to coexist with nature.
I think when we realise that then we can truly look at other people and pick up on the signs.
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Thats true, hopefully we can learn that as well ❣
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It’s true, no matter how we try to hide our depression a false smile never reaches the eyes. You used the picture and the words it brought to mind to write a truthful account of this horrible condition. The last two lines urges us to look beyond ourselves and take notice of the suffering of others.
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Thank you Lesley. There are always signs. I’m not sure about what we can do when we see them, but I know that just being there and caring goes a long long way.
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I agree, Jude.
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i tear apart masks to see some more
then find a mirror that reflects my core
You may not want to hide when you know
It hurts all, the nerve endings are all raw
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Very evocative and deep Reena. I like this alot. 💜
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Thanks 😊
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena and commented:
Eye of depression – Mental Awareness by Jude Itakali
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A brilliant and insightful write! I although feel that beyond the awareness to mental health there is also some serious social criticism in your lines; feeling low is not necessarily pathological, maybe what is though is the dictatorship of fake and hollow positivity that we are all supposed to exude with!😓
I relate well on that level, with sarcastic people; (as you mention😜) often a little connivence smirk 😏 breaks us from the very lonely crowd…😥
Thank you for that brilliant write!🙏
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Thank you Didier. You caught me🙌🏾
I did put in a critical sting so that there is a little guilt and reminder to us all.
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You have captured this – much more common than we like to think – so well. 🌷
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Thank you. I’m glad you approve. 💜🙏🏾
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Great piece 👌
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Thank you Eunice. 🙏🏾💜
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[…] https://wordeologist.wordpress.com/2021/08/26/eye-of-depression-mentalawareness/ […]
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This is a very interesting poem, Jude. People often do have a darker side.
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Very much so Robbie. Thank you 🙏🏾💜
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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A brilliant poem, Jude👍
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Thanks alot Roshni. 💜
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Outstanding! You seem to know those walls too well!
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Thank you Roop. More of understand them than know. 🙏🏾💜
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Beautiful, insightful write, Jude! Who has the time to look at others.
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Very right, and yet we do not exist alone🙏🏾💜
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I understand and relate to so much of this–well written
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Thank you so much for appreciating. 🙏🏾
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Wooaahh! I’m just stunned.
Depression is terrible, it is not something to be romanticized.
I’m so glad that you focused on the real pain, the worser sides and the reality of depression. It fits the picture very aptly. Love your unique perspectives ❤️
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Thank you Hema. It is a very sensitive topic and I knew I had to give more of the view from the other side.
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You describe this existence so well, I can only imagine you are personally acquainted with it in some way, Jude … It rang so many bells with me too…
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Thank you so much Jaye. I am aquatinted with a few who face it and I do have a gift or curse for empathy 😓🙏🏾💜
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🙏🏻🙏🏻
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Reblogged this on anitadawesauthor.com.
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Stunning write, Jude! Many see only what they want to see! Yes, this is raw but true and very relatable.
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Thank you so much Eugi. I’m glad you appreciate and acknowledge this. 🙏🏾💜
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My pleasure, Jude.
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Lovely, dear Jude! Stay blessed 😍🤗❤️
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Thank you Diana. I’m always happy to know what you think.
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Amazing job, this perfectly ties into something I have been working on. Love it ❤
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Thank you so much. Please drop a link here to find it when you are finished. 🙏🏾💜
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[…] Eye of depression #MentalAwareness […]
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Beautiful, Jude, and so heartbreaking. The pain isn’t hard to see if our hearts are open and we’re paying attention. ❤
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Thank you so much Diana. I agree entirely 💜
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Nice post
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Thank you 🙏🏾
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Beautiful.. thank you.
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Thanks for the appreciation as well. 🙏🏾
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I’m a new blogger and I’ve experience it a couple of times. I also want to say that knowing what to do can help real good.
Taking time to rest well can prove effect and then there are solutions I recommend also especially to folks who shared their experiences. You can check https://wordpress.com/post/learnunlearnfree.wordpress.com/35
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Incredibly evocative! Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you Sara. I’m glad you like it.
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Lots of feelings! ❤️
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Thank you so much.
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My pleasure.♥️
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Beautiful, and chillingly accurate.
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Thanks alot Marla.
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You’re welcome. I went on a spree of reading your work last night. You are an amazing writer, although you rarely appear on my reader for some reason. I guess you post when I don’t go on – but I got you last night and I went a little hog-wild LOL
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Haha, glad you did so. Found you too. 🙏🏾
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