When Repetition Becomes Judgment: Poetry Analysis (Unheard and Misunderstood)

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Some days, it feels like the world moves on without you, leaving you unheard, unseen, and buried under the weight of judgment. I poured my heart into this piece, not just to speak my truth but to let go of the pain that lingers when you're left behind, misunderstood. Sometimes, we fight not just for what we deserve, but to remind ourselves that we matter, even when it seems like no one else cares.

Today, something I unwanted just happened to me lol. So I decided to write it through poem. Enjoy!

Unheard and Misjudged

by Uni Sonia Yulianti

No, I am not wrong.

No, I am not what you say I am. 

I’m not the villain in this story,

I’m just a voice that refuses to stay silent,  

A truth spilling out because I can’t swallow it any longer.  

Stop cutting me with your careless words. 

Enough, I am tired of wearing your labels.

I know respect. I know restraint.

But today, I needed to scream,

  To break the chains of your stolen time.  

Why do you keep twisting the knife,

  Making me the enemy for wanting what’s mine?  

Is it a crime to ask for what I deserve? 

To ask for fairness in a world where I am always waiting?

I wanted to be seen, to be heard, to be recognized.

But instead, you paint me with your judgment. 

 Is it so wrong to fight for something I’ve worked for?

Does that make me a monster in your eyes?

If you hate me, believe me,

I’ve hated myself more than you ever could.

ANALYSYS OF THE POETRY

The title, "Unheard and Misjudged," reflects the speaker's emotional state of feeling ignored and wrongly judged by others. It hints at the frustration of not being given a fair chance and the sting of being misunderstood.

"No, I am not wrong.  

No, I am not what you say I am.  

I’m not the villain in this story,  

I’m just a voice that refuses to stay silent,  

A truth spilling out because I can’t swallow it any longer."

In this section, the speaker immediately asserts their innocence, resisting the unfair labels placed on them. The repetition of "No, I am not" emphasizes their frustration with being misjudged. The line "a voice that refuses to stay silent" shows the speaker’s need to express themselves, unable to keep their emotions contained any longer. The "truth spilling out" reflects the moment when their internal frustration breaks free, much like the emotions the speaker struggled to hold back.

"Stop cutting me with your careless words.  

Enough, I am tired of wearing your labels.  

I know respect. I know restraint.  

But today, I needed to scream,  

To break the chains of your stolen time."

Here, the speaker expresses the pain caused by the harsh judgment of others. The "careless words" symbolize the hurtful accusations thrown at the speaker, while "wearing your labels" indicates the burden of unfair assumptions. The speaker declares that although they usually practice restraint, this particular situation pushed them to express their frustration openly. The metaphor of "breaking the chains" emphasizes the speaker’s desire to break free from the restrictions placed on them, particularly the feeling of having their chance taken away.

"Why do you keep twisting the knife,  

Making me the enemy for wanting what’s mine?  

Is it a crime to ask for what I deserve?  

To ask for fairness in a world where I am always waiting?  

I wanted to be seen, to be heard, to be recognized.

But instead, you paint me with your judgment."

This part reflects the speaker’s sense of injustice, where their desire for fairness is twisted into something negative by others. The metaphor "twisting the knife" shows that the speaker feels not only hurt but that the pain is being prolonged by continued judgment. The speaker questions whether it’s wrong to expect what is rightfully theirs, especially in a world that often leaves them waiting. The final lines, "I wanted to be seen, to be heard," reflect the speaker’s frustration with being overlooked and misunderstood, despite their efforts.

"Is it so wrong to fight for something I’ve worked for?  

Does that make me a monster in your eyes?  

If you hate me, believe me,  

I’ve hated myself more than you ever could."

The final section reveals the speaker’s inner conflict, questioning whether their anger and determination make them appear unreasonable to others. The word "monster" symbolizes the speaker’s fear of being perceived negatively for simply standing up for their rights. The closing lines show the speaker’s vulnerability, acknowledging that they are harder on themselves than anyone else could be. This adds a layer of self-criticism, suggesting that the speaker is torn between defending their actions and doubting themselves.

Themes in Context of the Speaker’s Experience

1. Injustice: The poem captures the speaker’s feelings of injustice after being denied something they rightfully worked for. They are frustrated at being judged for expressing valid emotions in an unfair situation.
2. Misunderstanding: The speaker feels deeply misunderstood, both for their actions and for their reasons. Instead of receiving empathy, they are labeled negatively, which adds to their sense of isolation.
3. Emotional Conflict: The speaker experiences a conflict between standing up for themselves and fearing that they’ve been too harsh or misunderstood. This mirrors the inner turmoil of wanting fairness but feeling guilty for expressing frustration.
4. Self-Doubt: In the closing lines, the speaker reveals the weight of their self-doubt, acknowledging that they criticize themselves even more than others do. This shows a deep level of vulnerability beneath the anger.

Tone

The tone alternates between defiant and vulnerable. The speaker starts with a strong defense of their actions, pushing back against unfair judgment, but as the poem progresses, a softer tone emerges. In the end, the speaker reveals an emotional depth, showing that while they are outwardly angry, they are also dealing with internal self-doubt.

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In the end, maybe it’s not about being right or wrong. Maybe it’s about carrying the quiet ache of being misjudged and learning to live with the silence that follows. As much as we try to prove ourselves, sometimes the hardest battles are fought within. I don’t know if the sadness ever fades, but writing helps me breathe when the weight of it all becomes too heavy to bear.