Featured Poet - Cynthia Foss

NO MAGIC PILL

I wish there was a magic pill, so I frantically searched to find the one ...

I'm finally realizing that I'm the only one that's going to cure me. I'm finished. I'm done.

I'm done trying to find something that's going to save me, not just in a pill.

Nothing and no one ever has, or ever will.

I have to do some soul-searching,

heal the hurt,

heal the pain,

heal the heart,

and heal the shame.

Do some work and finally get some therapy.

Only then, you, beautiful woman, will be singing a different melody.

YOU GOTTA GET UP

You gotta get up ...

You gotta get up ...

You gotta get up and get out of that bed. Put your feet on the ground.

You have to support your own weight.

I know it's difficult.

Nobody is going to do this for you. I know it's hard and unfamiliar.

Get up and feel that sun shining on your face.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. I know it hurts, baby girl. I know the pain.

But get yourself up out of that bed.

You've already conquered monsters; you're ready to conquer the world.

The choice is up to you. Make them wonder how you did it.

You gotta get up!

BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN

She's a beautifully, perfectly broken soul. When she looks in the mirror, she can see the past has taken its toll.

You don't know her story, but she still wears her scars. If you look into her eyes, you can see the stars.

TOURNIQUET

Life is so hard right now, why do people judge me?

I wish I could be well and free.

People don't know how hard it is to be me; my mind is making me crazy. I'm working on myself; it's not like I'm being lazy.

Just take a walk in my shoes; it's a hard walk every day. Tell me if you would end your life or stay.

It is a hard battle I fight, so don't judge me, just pray that I live in the moment day by day.

OVERCOME

I'm sitting alone with my tears, holding inside all my anger and fears.

It's hard to make everyone understand; this is a disease I have, and now it has the upper hand.

I need people to stand by me but not too close; I need support but not an overdose.

Black and white thinking, no shades of gray. I hate you, don't leave me, don't go, please stay.

I'm fun-loving, cheerful, take charge of the room; when I'm alone, I'm filled with such gloom.

I'm always witty, with a lot of things to say; I'm not that person alone in my room, it's like night and day.

I'm getting help one day at a time. You have strength, a strong woman; you will finish this trial no matter the length, no matter the time.

DEAR DEPRESSION,

I tell you this: I'm growing stronger. I see you sneaking up, and you won't catch me any longer.

You won't make me feel rejected or feel like an empty shell.

I'm wiser and now protected. I tell you this, depression:

I'm stronger and ready to put up a fight.

You see, I'm loving myself and believe everything will work out alright.