Musings of a manic-depressive by AngelSeeker at All poetry

Love and hate

Dark and light

Ecstatic by day

Weeping at night

Flowers are blooming

Their smell in the air

From the heights of delight

I fall to despair

My world is unstable

I can’t stay in one mood

First I’m gregarious

Then I start to brood

Curled up in a corner

Anguish holds me bound

Then reaching for heaven

My feet off the ground

I never can hold it

Any feeling for long

It makes me feel weak

When I want to be strong

I’ve tried many pills

But they made me feel lost

In the feeling of nothing

So they're not worth the cost

I’ve tried singing and dancing

I’ve knelt down to pray

Nothing worked, though I wished it

Till I wrote everyday

Poems of laughter

Sunshine and tears

I wrote of my sorrows

My hopes and my fears

I began to see magic

Gave my disorder form

My words released passions

And calmed the vast storm

I still have some days

Where my soul is inflamed

On an ocean of extremes

But I write until it’s tamed

Patricia Gibson-Williams

July 24, 2004

Author notes

#4 ~ if you've read much of my poetry you will know that I am manic depressive. It’s kind of hard to hide. If you’ve found a medicine that works for you take it… there is no shame in being ill. Life is not easy, but it gets easier to handle as you get older. Sometime the sorrows seemed to much to handle; but when I think of all the joys I would have missed out on if I hadn’t held on even in the depths of despair, I’m glad that I made it here. Don’t give up… write your feelings down. Maybe you can even find the humor in some of things that you found so distressing (like the hair that bugged you tears) there is no better medicine then laughing at yourself. I know, I’ve had to find the joke in some pretty weird things. ~ Patti ~

Written July 24th, 2004

In a list

Sorrow and Despair • next in list

A contest entry

Manic Depression and Multiple Personality Disorder by DefinitiveFreak. 350 points, ended July 27, 2004, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest

What did you think

Comments

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g r e y i s m
September 3, 2004
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you have done a lovely job with this poem...the way it flows and the rhyming is wonderful. you know, I am always finding myself relating with the feelings described by manic depressive people...which is why I can't help but wonder if I have it as well. I don't know.
Best wishes to you...
Lea
Edited on Sep 03, 10:07 because ''.
Almighty Aphrodite
August 5, 2004
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I used to date a manic depressive person, and understand how volatile their emotional state is. My mother is also classified as such, and while most of the time she is friendly and content, there are the days when she's even more depressed than I am--and because I am a sufferer of severe depression, that's all the time for me. There is a constant balancing act that I find this poem having to perform here--and while it scares me, it also intrigues me a little. I hope that you find something that will keep you stable at least for a while. I am sorry that nothing has worked so far.

This is an absolutely wonderful poem--I'm sorry I didn't stop by before, so much to do, long story that I don't feel like telling

Many blessings,

Raven Aurora
Serenem
July 27, 2004
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Wonderful!
Ahhhh, AngelSeeker!

You have captured the feelings and struggles of being Manic Depressive very well... it's a very good poem! The comments in your Author's notes are more than uplifting... your attitude is wonderful! Thank you, very much for writing this...

Brava!

Regards,

Serenem
LdyBrknWing
July 25, 2004
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*LOVELY*
Wow! Patti, if being Manic allows one to write such lovely poetry, then I could almost wish myself to have this illness! I don't mean to make lite of something so serious; I'm just in awe of this beautiful piece! How wonderful that you have such a gift, to maybe compensate for those times when you feel "weak!" There is such power in words! You have a tremendous gift! This was a joy to read!
powerslave
July 24, 2004
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10/10
Wow, that was really good. It flowed really well and the rhyming was great too. You certainly have a way with words. Well done and good luck in the contest!
-LizBTropez-
July 24, 2004
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Wonderful
Regarding you author's comment- it's very true, laughing at yourself is good medicine. My boyfriend and I are both bipolar, but we usually find it's a blessing, not a curse You explained how life is for us quite well, in simple phrases (but great word choice!), but they say so much. Good rhythm, unforced rhyme, and smooth flow. You are absolutely right about the medication- the cure is far worse than the disease for many of us. I, too, have found writing to be the best therapy. I've always believed we're a talented bunch, and this proves it! Excellently done! Good luck in the contest!
Srs107
July 24, 2004
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wonderful
I really enjoyed reading this peice. My uncle is manic depressive and schizophrenic, my aunt is bi polar, and my grandmother is schizophrenic also. It kind of scares me when my uncle calls and he's not doing well , So I guess i can understand a little bit more of what they are going through by reading this poem. Thank you for writing it. People don't usually realize they can help people with their poetry no matter the subject but they can. Keep up your excellent work.
Diseased Mind
July 24, 2004
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you really embodied the feeling of how a manic-depressive feels. i don't have it so your poem really helped me understand it a bit better.your poem really flows well and it's just really good.
AngelSeeker
July 24, 2004
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Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I think I started to write I sat down and prayed, then I changed my mind and made it to pray, but I missed that dang and. That is one of the reasons I post my poetry, I need someone to point out the things I miss. I'm glad that you liked my poem so much, but the applause is for showing me how to improve my work ~ Patti ~
DefinitiveFreak
July 24, 2004
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Wow! I really like this entry Patti! Thank you for sharing it with us. And thanx for yer note in yer author comment, it made me smile. I'm glad there are people out there who are survivors of this tormenting condition.
Edited on Jul 27, 6:09 p.m. because 'While re-readin yer poem, I noticed a spelling mistake in my comment! Silly me! '.
siqminded
July 24, 2004
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this is an incredibly great poem, the rhyme scheme and meter were executed 100% perfectly. only suggestion is in the line

"I’ve knelt down and to pray" i'd suggest taking out 'and'

this is probably the best written poem i've had the pleasure of reading in my two years here at AP. (this is the same rhyme scheme i write with most of the time) i loved it, and i thank you for sharing it with us.