The Introvert's Curse

This work is lovely! I especially like the repetition of “As I sit in a room, alone, waiting,” as it beautifully illustrates the place introverts are most comfortable.

The contrast between the first two stanzas is nice also. I am a “closet introvert,” perhaps, because I can appear very extroverted when I’m with those I am comfortable with. I’m not really concerned about how people see me if I am surrounded by strangers… it’s around people who are in that gray area (people I know but am not yet comfortable with, or in areas where I might run into the same person again) that I really start to feel out of place and incredibly awkward. The anxiety only makes it worse - then I say things I regret/that sound stupid.

Every time I make plans, I go through this (regardless how comfortable I am with the people I make plans with, unless it is 100% close family members). At first I’m so excited… then I’m trying to think of ways to get out of it. I’m sure that something’s gonna go wrong or that I’m going to be utterly exhausted when I get home, or that I’ll be sitting there alone (surrounded by people) the whole time. And I wonder why I made those plans in the first place. The second to last line is redundant (“racing thoughts race away”). Perhaps you intended it this way to place emphasis on the word “race”, but if you wanted to make it a bit more varied, you could say “Racing thoughts flee,” “Racing thoughts run away,” etc. Of course, that’s all up to you as the writer, and it doesn’t hurt the feel of the poem to have written it that way.

I love the idea of action, adventure, and exploration… but when it comes to PEOPLE, I am a lot less inclined to participate unless it’s a smaller group. It’s not that I think excitement is wrong (perhaps that is how you feel - I can’t say I feel I am a legitimate extrovert or a legitimate introvert, so it might just be me), I just would rather partake of it alone. Or with few. Again, that could just be me. The idea of you banishing the thoughts of anxiety after (I’m assuming) having decided not to go out that day (or choosing to break your plans) is actually quite empowering. Anxiety can be overwhelming and despite our best efforts to rid ourselves of it, sometimes it doesn’t go away. So the fact that the protagonist of this poem has found a way to “hush the thoughts” is wonderful. Thank you for writing this lovely poem about the sorrow of being an introvert. I really enjoyed it!

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