They Never Saw The Storm Poem by Vanessa Dizon Alvarez

A poem about invisible battles and misunderstood hearts

They saw the surface, neat and still,
but never felt the waves beneath.
They spoke of flaws with sharpened tongues,
while I was gasping just to breathe.

They judged the way I stumbled,
but never saw the weight I bore.
They called me weak, or distant—
never asked what I was fighting for.

I wore a smile like armor,
and silence like a shield.
They saw the mask I gave them,
not the wounds I never healed.

It hurts when those who know you
choose to look away.
When family turns to whispers
instead of choosing to stay.

But I keep walking forward,
with grace they'll never name.
I fight my battles quietly,
and rise without their shame.