Affecting Effects

When I was young, my Father and

I used to watch a show called F/X

But I cannot blame this cinematic

Entertainment for the difficulty of

Determining Affect or Effect

Nor should I have to explain

The extent to which situations affect me

Or have an effect on me.

Regardless, I second guess my moves

Wondering if others will assume I

Am pretending to be affected or

That the effect I am feeling

Is not a proportional response.

If something becomes a hot topic

I shy away, for fear that I will

Be told I should have been as

Affected as I “pretended” to me.

What happens to others far away

Should have no effect on me.

Don’t gatekeep my emotions

Or judge me for being affected;

I already have that effect on myself.

(This is my October 22nd contribution to Poem A Day October.)