Ways of seeking sympathy

You can seek
Only sad, vulnerable  people
To share your sorrows with.
Sympathy guaranteed 

Or you can
Go out of your way 
To tell everyone
That you are  strong
And don't  need sympathy. 
And sulk when someone else
Gets the sympathy
That you think you deserve

Or you can create 
Your own defense mechanisms
Joke, laugh, play pranks
And when you find someone
Who seems actually interested
Pour it all out
Hoping against logic
That you are special.
And rub people  the wrong way

Or you can go all mysterious
Never  actually saying out loud
What ails you
Only dropping  hints
Here and there
Hoping for someone 
Who cares enough 
To follow the breadcrumbs 
Back to you.
And wait forever.