Foreigner (Poetry)

He wouldn’t say where he was from
he acted coy — played deaf and dumb
but if they pressed him he’d just say
‘somewhere else’ then walk away

They guessed he wasn’t from round here
nobody knew him — that was clear
he looked too different — his strange face
did not fit in — was out of place

He tried to mix but failed to blend
in with the crowd and found no friend
in anyone — then shunned by all
he prayed to be invisible

The mirror saw his body fade
as flesh dissolved but feeling stayed
thus he was free to come and go
and no one stared or told him ‘No’

But he got lonely... wistful ... sad ...
he missed the former life he’d had
when folk reacted — made him feel
rejected but alive and real!

He prayed again to get back to
the image they disliked but knew
and though it took about a week
they recognised and called him freak

as bit by bit he reappeared
the dogs all barked but no one cheered
and soon the novelty wore thin
they ended up ignoring him

His sense of isolation grew
he lost all hope because he knew
a rank outsider he’d remain
so slunk off back the way he came