Am I Worthwhile?
Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, please don’t laugh at me
When your laugh is fuelled by my anxiety.
Why do you torment me when you can’t explain
What it is I have to deal with, with my invisible pain.
Depression is always there, it hoovers over my head
When it hits me I feel I’d be better off if I was dead.
It’s hard to understand how punishing those thoughts can become
And when eventually it leaves me, I’m left feeling completely numb.
I lay in bed. I don’t want to move.
But I don’t want you looking at me as though you disapprove.
You be me, and I’ll be you,
Then tell me exactly what you would do?
Please don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh at me,
I’m not looking for any of your sympathy.
I don’t know why but I’m different and at times I feel damaged,
I wish I had a simple wound that you could bandage.
I want you to cradle my face in your palm
Then kiss me gently and shelter me from harm.
I want you to give me peace, I want you to make me smile.
I want you to make me whole. I want you to make me worthwhile.
© 2023 Daniel Kemp All Rights Reserved
About Daniel Kemp
At the age of seventy-six, Daniel Kemp has started his second year of studying the science of Psychology at the Open University. He is a member of The Society of Authors and also a bestselling writer. However, in early September 2025, he was diagnosed with cancer. He is now in palliative care at home, being looked after by his ex-wife. When he was writing his novels, he enjoyed writing stories that appealed to those who liked challenging themselves to solve mysteries that were set out before their eyes, but they couldn't.
His introduction to the world of espionage and mystery happened at an early age when his father was employed by the War Office in Whitehall, London, at the end of WWII. However, it wasn’t until after his father died that he showed any interest in anything other than himself!
On leaving academia he took on many roles in his working life: a London police officer, mini-cab business owner, pub tenant and licensed London taxi driver, but never did he plan to become a writer. Nevertheless, after a road traffic incident left him suffering from PTSD and effectively—out of paid work for four years, he wrote and self-published his first novel —The Desolate Garden.
Within three months of publication, that book was under a paid option to become a $30 million film. The option lasted for six years until distribution became an insurmountable problem for the production company.
All ten of his novels are now published by Next Chapter Publishing Company which has added an edition titled The Heirs And Descendants Collection, which holds all four books of that series, alongside an edition titled The Lies And Consequences Collection which contains all four volumes of that series.
He is the recipient of rave reviews from a prestigious Manhattan publication and described as—the new Graham Green—by a highly placed executive of Waterstones Books, for whom he did a countrywide tour of book signing events. He has also appeared on 'live' television in the UK publicising his first novel.
Less
not too much to ask at all
It wouldn’t seem to be, would it?
I so would like to help
maybe I can.
Tell yourself, Life is a gift
to be treasured each day.
We could clean all corners
all hidden spaces of your soul
from cobwebs, dust and Sad;
Fling open the windows to the sun.
Tell dark thoughts they can fly now
enjoy life.
Then you take careful steps
Enjoy nature, be part of its shine.
Wishing you well, / Miriam
That’s very good, thank you, Miriam
Very compelling, Danny. Michael suffers from depression and it is a mental illness not something a suffer or can just snap out of. 🤗💞
According to a psychiatrist I had PTSD, as the result of a so-called–accident. I reckon I saw death as a face in a burning white light. It spoke, to me. (I’m not making it up) It said I’m not going to ask for your name. I’m sorry for Michael, he’s had a lot of stuff to put up with in such a short life. You’re right about not being able to —‘snap out of it’, but I believe it does help to talk and try to understand.