“Writing this poem was my way of finally expressing what I’d kept hidden for so long. Through poetry, I found the courage to take off the mask – and if you’re wondering whether it’s safe to be yourself, it is. You’re allowed to be seen. You’re allowed to begin.”

She’s the life and soul
She is energy unleashed
Everyone wants her around
Until she hits the ground

Reflection:
For a long time, I was the life and soul of every room I entered. I thrived on being that burst of energy others could rely on to lift the vibe. But behind the sparkle, I often felt the weight of exhaustion. When the lights dimmed and the crowd was gone, I was left with myself drained, overwhelmed, and unsure how to refill my own cup. I wrote this to explore that side of me that gave so much but sometimes forgot to keep anything for myself.

She plays the fool
That she learnt at school
She makes them laugh
Inside she suffers the aftermath

Reflection:
Growing up, I learned quickly that laughter could be a shield. If I could make people laugh, I was safe, accepted, even loved. But while others were laughing, I was quietly managing the emotional toll it took on me. Comedy became a way to mask my vulnerability. This captures the bittersweet dance of wanting to be liked while hiding parts of myself that needed care and attention.

She’s larger than life
Outbursts of humour
Her lack of control
She ends up in a hole

Reflection:
My energy, at times, felt uncontainable – like I was trying to burst through the seams of my own skin. But when I lost control, I would spiral. These moments left me feeling ashamed and isolated. It became clear to me that being “larger than life” wasn’t always healthy or sustainable. This verse is a raw reflection of those emotional crashes that followed the highs.

Who is she really
She does not know
The layers of pain
Express her own distain

Reflection:
This is probably the most personal. I wrote it during a time when I genuinely didn’t know who I was beneath the performance. I had spent so long being who I thought others needed me to be that I hadn’t stopped to figure out what I needed. Peeling back those layers was hard and messy. But it was necessary. This line reminds me of the strength it took to stop running and start facing myself.

When she chose to stop
Her identity dropped
Her naked truth
For her to see

Reflection:
The decision to stop performing, to stop hiding, was terrifying. But it was also liberating. I realised that I could still be me – just without the pressure to entertain, to dazzle, to be “on” all the time. I could sit with myself, in silence, in discomfort, and eventually, in peace. Seeing my truth felt like meeting myself for the first time.

She still has the fun, personality
But no longer needs to hide behind
The mask

Reflection:
This part of the poem is my declaration of freedom. I haven’t lost who I am – the fun, vibrant, energetic parts are still there. But now they come from a place of authenticity, not performance. I no longer feel the need to hide behind the mask. I can just be me, and that is more than enough.

She can be still, quiet and enjoy the peace
And find that happy soul release
New life has begun

Reflection:
The ending of this poem is the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Learning to sit in stillness, to enjoy my own company, to feel peace without needing an audience – this has been my biggest growth. It took time, it took pain, and it took unlearning years of patterns. But I’m finally living in a way that feels true. This is my new life.

Final Thoughts:
“Jazz Hands” isn’t just a poem. It’s part of my story – a journey through identity, emotional survival, and finally, healing. If you see yourself in these words, please know you’re not alone. We all wear masks from time to time. But the bravest thing we can do is take them off and embrace the person beneath. You can still sparkle, but now it’s from a place that doesn’t cost you your soul.

Take time today to reflect:

What parts of you are real, and what parts have you created to cope?

Who might you become if you allowed yourself to just be?