Mental Illness: The Musical! Poem by ben Wenzle

Mental illness: the musical
But like
I'm too sad to sing it
So that's kind of a bummer
Do you know what is a Bummer
Mental illness: the musical!
Still
That is like the tagline for it
It's on the poster

Mental Illness: the musical
It's kind of a bummer
Still
It is a musical
It's a tough sell
I get it

You know
We may not be on Broadway but we are off off off off broadway
However
We were picked up those three different times by an inpatient recovery center
And
Well that was very exciting
Because it was like we had made the big time

And so with that
We proudly present
And by proudly I mean
I guess I don't know what proudly means
Mental Illness: the musical
Starring me
In the lead role of understudy to myself
Directed and choreographed by sadness
Costumes by mom
Set design by the suburbs


Before we begin tonight's performance
We'd like to let you know that the role of College
Will be played by me sleeping
Also the role of work will be played by me sleeping
I heard
Me sleepings probably gonna win it this year
Like
They better
Oh look
Its starting

lights dim
Me, dimmer
Curtain up
Frown down
Spotlight

I'm sorry
You know I don't know this part, right?
Like, I don't think i've ever known this part
I'm sorry
The directors yelling something at me but I can't hear him over the maracas
This is a very maracas heavy musical
Oh I'm sorry
Those aren't maracas those are gigantic prescription pill bottles shaking
And so many heads shaking
The medication I'm supposed to take every morning
What is mourning
Somebody please tell me

Why are there so many songs in this musical titled ‘empty'
Why is the audience always empty
You know I am sick of playing to an empty house
And I'm sick
And I'm sick