I know you feel responsible, Joseph, that is your nature, but responsibility and blame are not the same thing. ~ R. J. Ellory, A Quiet Belief in Angels

Blame, shame, guilt, fault —
to claim it, own it, comes naturally,
maybe not to normal folk,
but who’s normal?
But why? Because I deserve it,
at least that’s what the committee —
the one in my head —
drums into my psyche.
And do you believe what you’re told?
Only the bad, the negative, the denigrating.
Rather selective, isn’t that?
You hear praise, commendation too.
I don’t believe that! It embarrasses me,
singles me out. And blame does not?
No. Blame stays in my head.
Others don’t see the blame, the shame.
Invisible, ephemeral, imaginary?
I wouldn’t say that. But it’s true, you know?
You know.
I know.