Institutions

Trying institutions

Of the mind and soul

Looking for answers

Test self control 

Go to the groups 

Read all the books

Collect all the coins

Like the best of crooks

Look in the mirror

Affirmations each day

The changes are made

Then go away

Continue to ride

The waves of recovery 

Only to find

Endless discovery

From one to the next

The pages turn

Some to be torn out

Some to burn

The book will continue 

To be written with little control

While moving through the institutions

Of the mind and soul

Okay

Life hits one

In an unexpected way

Being a burden is something

One cannot obey

When one feels

Sad and blue

One may write their feelings

True or untrue

Don’t be worried

Don’t be scared

Maybe one only needs

To know someone cares

In a slump

One feels alone

They crave a call

On the phone

Someone to reach out

To tell them they are okay

To tell them life can suck

But they can keep the demons at bay

A deep breath

A silent prayer

One will find themself

Through those who care

One knows it’s selfish

For them to ask

For others to reach out

To take on that task

To let one know

One is not alone

That they too have had

A depression full-blown

In their hearts and minds

They know this is not rare

But sharing their anguish

They may not dare

Together they can

Help relieve the sadness

Together they can

Find a way out of the madness

Together they can

Fight another day

Together they can

Be okay

I’m done

I can’t do it anymore

This world

This life

I don’t understand

What am I supposed to learn

All I see is pain

Is fear

Is lying

And death

I want to start over

I want a redo

Does that mean

I am left in this world

At this time

Can I be

A better me

Or will I be

Left in the dark

Nothingness

A dark reminder

That nothing exists

Outside of now

Or do I come back

A fish

A bug

A child who

Has to figure it all out again

Can I start over

Is there a way

To start over

Or is that it

Do I go and see

My Father for the first time

My grandparents

My cousin

All no longer with me

Do I stay

In pain

Lost

In a world

That doesn’t need

Me

Oh they will say

We need you

Life will not be the same

They don’t realize

They are lying

Life goes on

Time ticks away

Maybe they won’t forget

But they will move on

They will continue

Life will continue

Sadness may occur

And will pop up

From time to time

But the sun will rise

The sun will set

Hours will go by

People will smile

And laugh again

People will celebrate

The days to come

Though those days

May be numbered

But

They will have the faith

And the strength

That I no longer possess

45

Almost there

What does that mean

I’m not where I

Thought I’d be

I did not expect

A suicide attempt

One or more

Rehabilitation stays

Jobs upon jobs

Figuring out

Who I am

Who I’m supposed to be

Fired for the first time

In my many pursuits

Am I stopping myself

Am I in my own way?

I don’t feel okay

I don’t feel right

I don’t know what’s going on

I don’t know what mask to don

I act

I apply

I try so hard

I’m lost in myself

I’m wrong for the part

The position, the role

I try so hard

I’m still the black swan

I won’t give up

Figuring out

Who I am

Not put on a shelf

Like a book

Or a journal

With words

Or none

I will

Find out

Who I am

For once and for all

I will write

I will sing

I will be with myself

One on one

The heartbreak

The tears, and pain

Are all I am and

I will not fall

I will over come

I will pursue

I will love again

I will continue to hope

For more than I am

For more than I can be

For all that I want

For all that is to be

I want for more

I need to be

One who lives

One who can cope

To be

To be

To be

The truest me

BW’24

Dating

There comes a time

In one’s life

Where being alone

Is a choice

Then you get

To the point

You really want

To meet “the one”

So what is

The approach

Where you can

Express your real voice

Can you show them

Who you really are

Or are will your work

Be completely undone

Will they accept you

Flaws and all

Will you meet your match

Celebrate and rejoice

Someone really sees you

Loves you for who you are

Knows and loves your flaws

Because you are their one