I KNOW
By Angus Shoor Caan
I know you're totally unaware
I know you're in there somewhere
There's no recognition
Not even a suspicion
Makes me feel like I'm not there.
INVASION
By Shahida
You are amidst the air that I breathe, with me, with every stride and not here to forsake.
You swiftly move with speed like the lightening carrying ghostly whispers over every mountain and lake.
Your invasion within me starts with darkness feeling apprehended and devouring pains of sadness.
Strangers fail to be compassionate as their ignorance and stigma blinds them and assume it’s just madness.
You have no colour; no aroma and you are invisible to the naked eye.
You have no body not even a shadow you never answer or wipe away my tears when I cry.
There is no preference to faith age status or creed.
You visit whom you choose to without remorse hesitation or heed.
You have no written invitation yet you always make your presence known at any time.
You feed of my insecurities the more I give the less I own which is mine.
You plant one single seed that grows and releases multitudes of emotions negativity, self-harm, anxiety and fear.
Diminished is my profound joy of contentment, confidence and happiness once again now that you are here.
The dress and hair that shrouded me with a sense of beauty elegance and pride.
Today the same dress and hair shrouds me with disgust, revulsion, ugliness and I cannot hide.
It’s a struggle to envisage a world that attracts so much beauty gratitude positivity and love.
How can I? When it’s your dismal world that I view in my mind through your consumption with dismay beyond and above.
My loved ones whom I've left far behind embrace me with mercy and understanding.
Their voices I can hear but disappear as rapidly as they are commanding.
You invade my thoughts behaviour and life momentarily with a voice that doesn’t fade.
A constant reminder that even though you are not visible I am still me just a helpless soul this is who you have made.
Your perseverance is mesmerising fixating immensely, powerful and strong.
In a room full of light and hope I am still alone; I don't have a choice with you is where I belong.
When will I be free and expel from this mortal shell?
It’s just another episode as usual only time will tell.
ELEVENTH HOUR
By Joan McNerney
Wrapped in darkness we can
no longer deceive ourselves.
Our smiling masks float away.
We snake here, there
from one side to another.
How many times do we rip off
blankets only to claw more on?
Listening to zzzzzz of traffic,
mumble of freight trains, fog horns.
Listening to wheezing,
feeling muscles throb.
How can we find comfort?
Say same word over and over
again again falling falling to sleep.
I will stop measuring what was lost.
I will become brave.
Let slumber come covering me.
Let my mouth droop, fingers tingle.
Wishing something cool…soft…sweet.
Now I will curl like a foetus
gathering into myself
hoping to awake new born.
BETTER
By C.W. Blackburn
‘Better’
is a word
with no singular
definition.
I think
that ‘better’
is not
a brave face.
‘Better’
is not
a pill.
Yes, it’s true
these things
can help –
but
‘better’
is not
never having
worries
or doubts.
It’s not
about being
‘perfect’
when the
setbacks
come.
It’s not
about
sweeping
our problems
under
the carpet.
It’s not saying
‘that doesn’t
affect me
anymore’ –
or living up
to someone else’s
expectations
of who
you should be.
It’s not
a shiny
happy
face.
If you
want to
get
‘better’,
maybe
you have
to lose
that label
completely –
that impossible
ideal
you were trying
you live up to.
Perhaps,
to recover,
you must
know how
to be whole –
for the
greatest damage
is done
when we think
we’re unsuccessful
or worthless.
Maybe a ‘better’
term would be
‘to heal’ –
for if we want
to heal –
we must first
learn how
to navigate
the darkness
with the light.
We must teach
ourselves
to live
the questions,
as they appear –
and finally,
in our hearts –
to find
the answer …
ABOUT C.W. BLACKBURN: C.W. Blackburn is a mystic poet who lives in Bournemouth, a seaside town on the south coast of England. He has authored five collections of poetry, including Where Words Are Yet To Be Spoken: Poems for Presence and One Hundred Colours of Being: Poems in the Spirit of Zen, and his work has also been published in numerous magazines and journals. His writing has been an invaluable aid in his ongoing recovery from depression, anxiety, and OCD, and he is a well-known advocate for mental health in his local community and beyond.
SOUVENIRS
By John F. Zurn
My racing thoughts veered off the track,
and I was so sure that I was Jesus.
Then manic thoughts continued attacks,
and I believed that I was the fifth Beatle.
Then, finally in jail filled with terror
restrained like a pinned butterfly,
squirming in pure mental terror,
I thought very soon I would die.
Then battling three kinds of cancer,
my anxiety felt out of control.
Yet courage and grace brought me answers,
and despair was defeated by hope.
What once caused me agony daily
with the unending sorrow and fear,
are now only remnants of memory
like a box full of life’s souvenirs.
ABOUT THE POEM: "Once very painful experiences that deeply affected me have now become harmless memories that I can interpret without fear and sadness."
THE UNATTENDED PARTY
By Duane Anderson
The party had just begun,
but I was not invited, and stood outside
where the party was taking place,
watching as each guest entered,
wondering why they were invited
while I was not?
I am waiting my turn.
Will an invitation be sent, or will it be
another map to a dead-end road?
TO ALL OF YOU
By Dionne Risley
To all of you who let me believe that I was really weak
Many a fight I have fought and won, I'm not so easily beat.
The lessons I've learned along the way have opened up my eyes
Now I see what I couldn't before, now I'm much more wise.
To all of you who told me "I love you and I care"
I took it for granted in times of trouble, you would just be there.
I found it hard to keep on going without you by my side
The one whose love never I questioned, has been my unseen guide.
To all of you who made me feel that I was not enough
I have made it through the worst of storms and seas when they were rough.
I’ve had to leave so much behind, it often makes me cry
I must look forward and not look back, It's hard but I will try.
I'll continue my journey to who knows where
I may trip, but I won't fall
But one thing I know as I walk alone,
I am stronger than you all!
ABOUT THE POEM: "My poems are based mainly on my own personal experiences and struggles mainly with mental health and relationships. I have suffered with mental health issues throughout my life, and still do, this has led to other issues such as addiction. I find writing a form of therapy which helps - more than I can put into words."
OH RIVER
By Tandra Mishra
Oh river, Excuse me, please.
Oh, earthly bliss!
I have some talks with you.
Can I sit beside you?
Oh please,
you are always in a hurry.
Oh, what keeps you so busy?
Where are you gliding from?
Where is your real home?
On the top of the rocks, in the misty whites?
Or at their foot in wide blues?
What pushes you to go ahead,
Or something draws you to infinity, oh torrent?
On the stony bed you flow like a devoted.
Ignoring your admirer
You are always a pathfinder.
EXPERIENCES
By Simon Drake
I want to pull the knife out
Relieve the horrendous pain
Petrified I might not survive
My heart won't take the strain
For too long have I suffered
Unnoticed in screaming silence
Fingers pressed tightly to my lips
A unique pain compliance
Hurtful Experiences scarred me
Cutting me deeply to the quick
Pressure won't stop the bleeding
Or make the stitches stick
Never able to control my triggers
Destined to always be burned
An eternity of hurtful lessons
Attended but I never learned
ABOUT THE POEM: "This is how I felt at many times throughout my life continuing to suffer from painful experiences that raised their ugly heads when I least expect it."
EARLY MORNING HOSPITAL VISIT
By Tim Boardman
Early start
marmalade and butter
In a small plastic tubs
I think we’re
Going on holiday
to Crete.
My headache thinks I am
an early morning start
Packed cases
waiting for taxi
Last minute check
Sunglasses, books, and tablets
But no knife
To butter the toast
At St. James’s hospital
Waiting for further check ins
A beige raincoat
Hung on back of chair
And pyjamas on
ABOUT TIM: "I’m a teacher that has now taught students with individual needs for the last 25 years, I have taught art, English, maths, living skills, tai chi and mindfulness. It is an odd profession it takes over your life and it affects your life and view point of the world. For the last four years my dad has had dementia and this has put a huge strain on everything and everyone. These poems are about this time. Writing and making art has always been a way for me to get emotions out, and a way to talk about issues and anxieties; it’s not often talked about but it affects so many people. Any mental health issue needs to be talked about and opened up, we need depression and anxiety in the cold light of day, not hidden away."
ACCEWPTING YOURSELF
By Christine Botros
Have you ever felt like you don't know who you are
You have changed yourself thinking that you would be happy
But it feels like you have went too far
It's like you want to go back to the old you
However you don't know how to anymore
And it's like how much you try to go back
You can't seem to open that door.
It's like sometimes you like your new you
However other times you feel like you lost yourself
You lost yourself from the person you once were
Sometimes it can be so hard to bare
Because you made a mistake
That you wished you didn't make
You used to be full of life and happy
How ever circumstances changed that
And now you wish to find that happiness again
You wish you can turn things around and feel sane.
You sometimes feel the world has turned against you
In ways you have never imagined it would
Sometimes you wish you didn't change
You would give anything to go back if you could.
This is your new However you haven't accepted yourself yet
And you are beating yourself I bet
However start small changes
Till you start getting closer and back to your old self
You are still amazing regardless of who you became
The person you are and the person you once were are both the same.
A HEART IN DARKNESS
By Francis H. Powell
Don't smother me with scorn and hate
or lead me to the razor's edge
nor flash the sword of a samurai
cut right through my inner eye
Don't tie me to a stake
for any any words I might have said
because words often stray from my mouth
drifting from the shadows
Don't drown me with your bitter tears
nor disturb me with your inner fears
of which I know are plenty
Never strain a muscle to leave your bed
or douse the fire in your head
write some words, that can't be said
Don't reveal to me your hollow soul
or grind me down to the bone
with your heart in darkness
Don't follow me beyond the grave
share your torment and your rage
Casting shadows upon my name
or send me sprawling to a deep abyss.
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THANK YOU to the following people who have donated to Poetry For Mental Health: Duane Anderson, John Zurn, Sandra Rollins,
Braxsen Sindelar, Caroline Berry, Sage Gargano, Gabriel Cleveland, April Bartaszewicz, Patricia Lynn Coughlin, Hilary Canto, Jennifer Mabus, Chris Husband, Dr Sarah Clarke, Eva Marie Dunlap, Sheri Thomas, Andrew Stallwood, Stephen Ferrett, Craig Davidson, Joseph Shannon Hodges, John Tunaley, and
Patrick Oshea.