My liking for life has been stolen,
A thief came and took it away;
A visitor bent on destruction,
A burglar from hell, you might say.
I see via dark tunnel vision,
With the edges so dim and opaque;
My senses have been all but flattened,
My sanity now is at stake.
I see nothing good in the present,
My past is a far nicer place;
Of the future I may have been due to,
I see not a feasible trace.
The burden of living is heavy,
So heavy, and hauling me down;
A quagmire of dark contradictions,
Swamping my smile with a frown.
I decide to be done with this torment,
And make the decision alone;
I threaten the thief with eviction,
In the midst of my mind-battle-zone.
Almost robbed of all mental possessions,
I still know what's wrong and what's right;
The deceiver, in all of his glory,
I'll fight and I'll fight and I'll fight.
With the sword of the truth I then stick him,
With the shield of my reason, deflect
All his arrows of poisonous lying,
His falsehood and fear, I reject.
Now my liking for life is returning,
The enemy forced to retreat;
The hope in my heart, reappearing,
The thief? he lies dead at my feet.
Written June 1995
Good subject and good outcome in this very frank poem of yours. I'm sure lots of people can relate to it and I know I certainly can.
Yes, I see we have that burden in common. Yes my Black Dog does address much the same issue. I feel a number of my poems have been affected by it. You have expressed it here so well as well as the redemption. I hope I can find the joy you express in many of your other works.
I love every line, and am so relieved to see that he could be conquered.
Thanks for sharing your struggle and the way of winning over it. Nicely written!
It is always good never to give up losing hope t win over the struggle. What a nice affimration of hope and the will to
Sums up what I've experienced perfectly. A good effort & great read. Deep but not depressing! :)
Wonderful poetic treatment of depression without the Imipramine? Love the last line John. Great.
ya know, my MyPoemList is getting crowded after a few years here on PH, but i guess i can squeeze this one in. :) i wonder if i will ever take the time to look at them again.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
So pleased you have now recovered - well expressed in your poem, a great write.