They Don’t Hear Me
By JR
The sound of my mother’s voice
“J.R. you are not dumb,
just pay attention”
as I sit staring at the math problems
the tutor has in front of me
but they don’t hear me
I’ve always had a mind of my own
ever since I was able to stand on
my own
but they don’t hear me
As a baby I tried to tell people
what I wanted
and didn’t want
but they don’t hear me
I would see my older brothers and cousin
run out of the house when my back was turned
because they knew I’d
follow
I would tell my little legs
to move
but they don’t hear me
The sound of my mother’s voice
“J.R. you can do the work”
but they don’t hear me
Imagine being unable to express what you’re feeling
I am still that baby who is crying inside trying
to tell the people
that I know
what they don’t
but they don’t hear me
Here I am today still unable to tell my mom
how I feel because she’s passed on
However I still find myself talking to her
hoping that she can hear me
Because I can now tell her that
I don’t know how to do
what she wants
but can only do
what I can
BUT THEY DON’T HEAR ME
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The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
We really love hearing your voice! It is so powerful, and we would love to hear more about what you want people to hear you about.
This is a wonderful piece. I love this poem because it can take on so many different meanings based on the reader, but at the same time it is easy for the reader to feel a little blip of what you’ve felt. Many of us feel unheard at times, and it is important to have an outlet for these feelings. I can tell poetry is that outlet for you. My favorite part is the part about your mother, and hoping she can hear you. This part really spoke to me, as I am sure it speaks to many people who have lost a loved one. Great work and keep it up!
I resonate with this as I struggled in school and still struggle to have a voice of my own. Even when I do have a voice of my own, sometimes no one is listening. I enjoyed the opening and heartfelt flow of words. Very nicely written.
Hi JR,
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your poem. I loved the way you brought in the line “but they don’t hear me” between each section. It brought the whole poem together. I think my favorite part of your poem was the line “hoping that she can hear me”. That line and the section above it about talking to a loved one after their passing grabbed my attention. I think so many people can relate to this. I recently lost someone, and I have the hope that she can hear me and is looking down on me. I hope you continue writing because your poem is truly beautiful, and you have a real gift. Thank you for sharing this.
The way the key phrase evolved over the poem was beautiful; you always knew it was coming but it had a different impact every time. Being able to use the same words like that while giving it a different meaning is the mark of a good writer.
This is a strong poem. I like how the “but they don’t hear me” is italicized to emphasize that reoccurring idea or theme of not being heard. Putting the “but they don’t hear me” in all capitalized letters at the end bring about a stronger emotion for the reader. You’ve done a great job of painting some of the instances in which you did not feel heard. It made it easier to visualize the your circumstances. Great job!
Hey JR! I’m so glad you shared your poetry – your words were beautiful. I hope you know that you are truly gifted with a skill to write, and I really hope to see more of your work shared on here. I related to your poem in many ways, and it definitely brought up some emotions for me. When I was little, I used to write poems as a way to cope with emotional situations, and I remember it being such a great way to express my thoughts. Thank you again for sharing, I really hope to see more of your work in the future!!
Such a powerful story.
I think it would be stronger if your last line was not capitalized but instead lowercase to show maybe how it made you timid and sad. also maybe separate each word in the last line into their own lines like:
but
they
don’t
hear
me.
maybe include a period at the end because it shows a bold feeling of listen to my story, its important
This is a beautiful poem. I was almost brought to tears reading about the narrator’s struggle to be heard. The repetition of the line “but they don’t hear me” really emphasizes the hardship that the narrator is facing. I enjoyed getting the perspective of the narrator. With my future career, I could be working with people who struggle with similar things such as math problems and emotional issues. Reading this poem further deepens the compassion I feel toward people who are struggling. Thank you for sharing your awesome work! Stay strong!
This is amazing. It is very well written and definitely understandable. I understand you feelings with not being able to be heard and I know how frustrating it can be. It can even be harder after one passes.
JR, I feel the pain and frustration you are expressing through this piece. Living in a world where you feel excluded and, instead of inviting you in, everyone looks at you as alien for not participating in it. We all deserved to be listened to and validated. I hope someday you feel heard.
JR, I also lost my mother. She died when I was 17. We didn’t have the best relationship, but I’m now entering a phase of my life where I desperately wish she was here. I’m not sure of your spiritual beliefs, but if you do pray, I find myself often praying to God to tell my mom what I want her to know. Sometimes I talk to her in my head, also hoping that she can hear me. I definitely think our moms are somewhere watching us and that they can hear us. It can be hard to get others to understand that you can’t always do what others expect of you, that it feels like people aren’t listening to your needs or ideas. I think your poem is beautiful, and you are heard, JR.
Being unheard and unable to express how you truly feel about things is one of the hardest burdens for an individual to undertake. This can never be an easy process but the best that we can do from it is to learn. Through repeatedly trying, never giving up and always at least making an attempt to convey what one means to say is the best thing that we can do. Try not to be discouraged because once we understand how to communicate to others how we feel doors open for us, true meaning and understanding is achieved, and a new outlook can begin.
THANK YOU for this eloquent expression of your life experience, JR!
Dear JR,
Wow such a powerful piece of work. Nice flow and beautiful structure. I truly enjoyed reading this and related to it very much. Please keep working at it. I love the repetition and the emphasis on the title.
Hey J.R,
This is a really powerful poem. Feeling heard is something that so many of us take for granted. I really appreciate you putting those feelings out there, it’s not always the easiest thing to do but always feels good. Content aside, the flow to this poem is really good. The way that it builds off of itself and feels like it is rising in intensity, culminating in that last line “BUT THEY DONT HEAR ME.” It sounds like you have a lot to say and a lot to figure out- I really hope writing is helping you do that. You have a gift for it.
Just from reading this poem for the first time, I can tell how personal it is to you which to me is the point of writing poetry. I especially like how you switch from “but they don’t hear me” to “hoping that she can hear me” toward the end of your poem. Thank you for sharing.
Jesus man. I get that feeling. No one really understands me and I have been in a pile of worthlessness and depression. I understand how you feel and you aren’t alone.
I feel this. My mom would always tell me if I “just did the work” I could get good grades in school. It was never that simple tho. I think there’s a lot of people out there who feel the same way, people can identify with the powerful emotions you express in this poem. I also hope the type of people who didn’t hear you read this too, because maybe they’ll learn from it. Ya know, maybe learn to listen. Thanks for writing this, JR. I pray that someday everyone will hear your voice — spoken or written.
J.R, you are heard. It might seem like the person you’re trying to communicate to might not hear you, but someone out there has heard you at some point. I have heard you, all of the other people that have read this inspiring poem has heard you. J.R, just remember you are heard, you are loved, and you are an amazing author that I know will go to big places someday. Just remember, someone can always hear you, and there is always someone that will listen to you.
A lot of the time I feel like people don’t hear me, like if it something I want or don’t want. Everyone feel this way sometimes. I love this poem and keep pushing
I have felt this many times before. It’s like you are doing everything you can but nobody listens, no one gives you a chance to speak and let out your emotions and how you are feeling. It’s hard to find someone who will always listen but just know there always is someone.
I love your line “hoping that she can hear me Because I can now tell her that I don’t know how to do what she wants but can only do what I can” because you can hear and feel the emotion and feelings of this.
I’m the middle child and sometimes it feels like no one in the world cares or wants to listen to me. It’s like they can’t hear me and don’t want to. I have so much to say, but no one to tell it to.
“The sound of my mother’s voice “J.R. you are not dumb, just pay attention” as I sit staring at the math problems the tutor has in front of me” whenever I don’t understand a math question, I’ll ask my dad to help. Sometimes he’s super helpful but other times he just makes me feel dumb. I just stare at the question trying to make it make sense and the words he says just go in one ear and out the other. He’ll say “you’re not being dumb you just have to listen” but it doesn’t help. So I can relate to this line.
Overall you’re poem is amazing. I love the emotion and how genuine it is. Thank you for sharing this with me and others who can relate to it! Keep writing such wonderful poetry.
Sometimes parents just assume and don’t give you a chance to say something.
I can relate to this because sometimes my parents don’t think I am trying. They just walk away and don’t hear what I have to say. The thing is, I actually am trying my best and it makes me feel dumb because they don’t think I am trying. They tell me they will come back when I’m ready to learn. Just like this poem says, they don’t hear me.
Hi JR
I think this is a great topic to write a poem about. Listening or hearing always seems like such a simple thing to do, but in reality, it’s not just the words that we speak but also in the way we move or in our facial expressions when we say them. However, even then what we say may be misunderstood. We are constantly put in positions with different people who will interpret what we say differently. I think it is great for you to put your thoughts out there and to have people listen and try to understand your writing, either that be through your poems or other mediums.
JR,
You are so heard through your poetry. Thank you for sharing! I know it can be so difficult feeling unheard and misunderstood. I love your repetition of “but they don’t hear me” because it conveys your message while also maintaining a rhythm. Keep using your voice!
KC
This was a great read, I really loved the repetition of “but they don’t hear me” after each stanza it really brought the whole writing together. And then at the end how you added “hoping she can hear me” was such a sad but sweet line. It had such a nice flow to it, and I’m sure many people can relate to this. Keep up the amazing work!
Those are painful thoughts to live with. Not being able to feel like you can tell them what you want…..
Especially after they pass away. I’m very sorry because I have also lost a parent, and I can relate to wishing he could hear me.
This is a truly inspiring poem because it repeats those powerful words after every great example. Beautiful writing! I hope you continue to write and tell your truth!
~JP
Good Poem, I would like to hear more from you in regards to what your message is and what you would like for people to really hear you out for. It is something we can all relate to being unheard or people having high expectations of us that we just cannot meet. We are ourselves and cannot be what people want us to be we can only become better versions of who we truly are.
Hi JR, I think this is a powerful work of expression and portrayal of your struggling. I like how it develops from you as a child to you now. The repetition of the key phrase and the way it changes towards the end is very moving. I enjoyed this and I hear you!
J.R,
This was a very interesting poem for me to read. My little brother struggles with ADHD, and the frustrations he’s voiced in the past seem to mirror some of what you voice in this poem. That expectation to do more than you’re capable while trying your hardest and still being discounted by those you look to for support sounds like agonizing frustration, and I can feel that in your writing. Your use of repetition of “but they don’t hear me” was really powerful when it switched to “hoping that she can hear me” in reference to your mother. I truly hope that you might feel heard through your writing. Thank you for this.
Hi JR,
This poem is so moving. I felt the way that you were able to capture these feelings of being misunderstood and ignored while you wanted so badly to advocate for yourself through your words. The repetition of the line “but they don’t hear me” really drove your point home, and made the reader understand the intensity behind your emotions. Thank you for sharing your feelings through this amazing piece,
Ainsley
I enjoyed reading your poem. You gave me insight into how you feel and how the world never understood you. I can’t imagine what it has been like in your life, not being able to feel heard.
You say in your poem, imagine being unable to express what you’re feeling” I hope in your life people have started to listen and understand you- so you can feel heard. I know I may not be able to understand how you feel completely, but in my life, I can say I’ve felt similar. The feeling of being locked inside with your emotions and others not understanding would be very frustrating
Your use of repetition with the phrase “they don’t hear me” showed me how essential it was for us as readers to understand.
In the future, we can change and dictate what happens. We can be better, or we can be worse and those are based on the choices we make coming forward. I feel like I CAN HEAR YOU. I WANT TO HEAR YOU. I WANT YOU TO BE HEARD. Keep trying and moving forward! People will hear you!
Sincerely,
A man wanting to be heard as well
This is such a great and moving poem. I feel like a lot of people growing up struggle with feeling understood. I know I certainly did an on days still do now. I connected with your poem personally because growing up I struggled with people misunderstanding me. This was partly because I had a speech disorder and partly because I had an undiagnosed learning disorder. At times I would feel trapped inside of my body, kind of like how you described it in your poem. You did a beautiful job picturing this feeling. I loved this poem and hope you continue to write.
I really liked this poem, I liked the repetition of the line “they don’t hear me”. I liked the emphasis of that line at the end with it being in all caps. One thing I like about this poem is that I feel like many people will be able to relate to it for different reasons. For myself, I relate to this poem because I am neurodivergent. I relate all too well to the feeling of trying to tell people how I feel or how I’m struggling and just being told that I just need to “focus more” or “try harder”, and how people never really seemed to listen. I think that this poem is written from a unique point of view and it’s really important for people to read it.
JR, Wow is all I have to say, this really hit home. I have seen similar situations in my elementary days where this same problem happen and that student ended up going to a bad place and not doing well mentally and physically, I can only imagine what you were going through, Whenever I am down I like to turn to the last possible thing as I am not a religious standard person but I’m not sure of your spiritual beliefs, but if you do pray, I find myself often praying to God to tell my mom what I want her to know. Sometimes I talk to her in my head, also hoping that she can hear me.
I really enjoy how this poem shows the struggle of a child growing up that is never resolved. It is sad that in society children have issues that they can’t solve, and when they reach out adults can not properly help them. And now these children grow up into adults that don’t feel heard or understood. I’m glad that you are able to reconcile with your experiences growing up. I hope you feel heard through all of these people reading your beautiful poems.