This Poem was Submitted By: stephen g skipper On Date: 2006-11-09 06:59:37 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!
Click Here To add this poem to your "Voting Possibilities" list!
Bipolar and Me
The highs are the most powerful of addictions
Salve of medication a numbing contradiction
Craving the freedom of an unfettered mind
Following no flight plan, a modern Icarus
Riding wild stallions across uncharted land
Cresting waves on a perpetual spring tide
Tasting fruit from forbidden Eden whilst playing chess with the Devil
Taking his bishops and dallying with his Queen
Thoughts quicker than silver, mental wall of death
Klaxon of ideas rattling my brain
Decreasing yet faster the downwards spiral
Voices deaden and destroy dubious intellect
Will it be a gentle landing or
Will I be slammed into the ground
Nocturnal Frights know my name
Macabre duet of shadows and sorrows
Pirouette across bedroom walls
Beyond scared, can’t roll away from the door
Tiredness
Pain
Remorse
Shame
Price that has to be paid before I can be saved
Would I change?
No not I
|
|
Copyright © November 2006 stephen g skipper
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2006-12-03 19:24:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.25000
Bipolar and Me......Interesting read, so very informative to those who have no idea the hell one lives through with this disease.......you are so gifted (in your ability to write as you do) my friend and loving too as you share this part of your life with us.........I have enough illness to last forever and I envy you not.........we all have our high's and lows in some way or another yours are so much more intense. Please take good care, do as I and take one day at a time and thank the good Lord for His love......God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2006-12-03 18:44:19
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.53333
Stephen,
What comes with bipolar is the high ups and low downs.
It is great to live with such vitality and yet in depth it's equal to
the height. So estatic/miserable.
Everyone wants the highs with no low.
But it doesn't work that way.
Living as fully excitedly seems better than boredom.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CANDLES LIT AT BOTH ENDS.
PEOPLE that live quiet mundane unexcessive lives live longer
but its your choice.
I think there are natural means to balance out a bit.
And yes you will be the same person.
Just a bit more at peace.
good poem,
dellena
This Poem was Critiqued By: Nancy Ann Hemsworth On Date: 2006-11-17 08:47:37
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
I decided to take up your offer and take a look at some of your words, and I am glad that I did just that. I have a few friends that are bi polar and by reading your words I feel that I can get a better grip on how it must be to ride this sea of emotions. This is very well stated indeed and gives the reader a true look through the eyes of the master. The part that I really felt hit home so much for me is that you have questioned that you would keep the condition and "yes" you would. That is very interesting indeed, a complete acceptance of ones self and that is something in it's own right and says much for your strenght and character.
Thanks for sharing this and enlightning this reader.
nancy
This Poem was Critiqued By: James C. Horak On Date: 2006-11-16 09:42:27
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
More than an organ of the body (and the mind is more) it sustains
the ability to heal itself unless you're somehow obliged to medical
minimalism and "profit taking". And, though you might not change what
has been wrought upon you (by really nothing more than opinions) it
can be a difficult pill to swallow that you must face the world with
less authority for it.
While you may have accepted this lot, as I saw one other gifted member
of TPL doing, it is with a certain sadness I witness your resignation.
For in truth, Stephen, you may have nothing more (and nothing less)
than the ability to see with emotion more of what others avoid.
Society wants to confine such "abilities", to question them, nay, to
inqusition them, in order to verdict find upon them some label that
their differences are less. Meanwhile, in buying into the cloaked way
this is done, "therapy", they can be allowed to steal precious
individuality that otherwise might make contribution to society if
bravely allowed. In spite of this, however, MANY great contributions
to society HAVE been made by people such as yourself. And in most all
fields.
In England they have a Hyde Park for such as we, here they have a pill.
Would you be "Craving the freedom of unfettered mind" that acknowledgement
alone might make a difference.
Although, I would like to learn more about this, "dallying with His Queen".
I've been playing too dimensional a chess game.
One small correction: "Tiredness/Pain/Remorse/Shame/Price(s) that has (have)
to be paid before I can be saved".
I am much impressed with the way your poem has of "inviting" readership into
it. Too bad there isn't a door to slam once you get them in.
JCH
This Poem was Critiqued By: DeniMari Z. On Date: 2006-11-12 21:03:06
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Dear Stephen,
This is an amazing piece of writing - facing your illness, head on, and letting the chips fall where they may.
It's priceless, that if given the choice, you would never change, and I applaud you for that. You know exactly who you are - why you are the way you are - what you love about it - and live your life the way you were meant to.
You've taken me inside your world, shared the intensity of how you feel - given me a broader look at the world of those who are bi-polar. Never let an illness define you, never feel remorse or shame - remember every day, you are not alone - you are a creative, imaginative, entertaining writer - which you have shown here with this write.
Sincerely,
Denimari
This Poem was Critiqued By: Ellen K Lewis On Date: 2006-11-10 23:19:04
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Hi Stephen! Your title is great for this piece. My favorite line is 'Cresting waves on a perpetual spring tide'....very good description.!.
Tasting fruit from forbidden Eden -whilst playing chess with the Devil...it's a good description but maybe break that line into 2 lines?
Taking his bishops and dallying with his Queen...I love that line. Awsome.
Will it be a gentle landing or Will it be
Will I be slammed into the ground a gentle landing?
Or will I be slammed
into the ground?
Tiredness....could be simply 'tired'
I take the ending to mean that you, yourself, is not what needs changing. A good and worthy person caught in a rotten trap....
Thank you for sharing the macabre poem. It has a really strong voice. I like poems that speak of things loudly. Good job! I really like this. Ellen
This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2006-11-09 21:33:08
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Stephen,
For any who no the throws of bipolar life you've discribed it most aptly and so powerfully. Well penned, I lived your odessy of words and felt their bite and kiss. No nits from this reader, to change a word would but change what you've stated. Thank you...hugs.
Lora
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2006-11-09 09:49:32
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Hi Steve....this is an amazing poem. You have actually given a face and name to the disease bipolar. I have heard that people with bipolar don't like to take their meds as the highs they get without them are worth it. But coming down off those highs can be so devastating. Your description of these highs is just superb!
Riding wild stallions across uncharted land
Cresting waves on a perpetual spring tide...........these lines are breath taking and I can only imagine
that the highs do exactly that. You write that they
are a powerful addiction which is a perfect description
Thoughts quicker than silver, mental wall of death
Klaxon of ideas rattling my brain
Decreasing yet faster the downwards spiral
Voices deaden and destroy dubious intellect......these lines are poignant to me. They are so passionate
and yet they are so sad. Your inward struggle must be
overwhelming. But this disease has not injured your
extraordinary talent as a writer. I do hope you will continue to write as it is a wonderful tool to vent our passions, fears, and doubts. My heart goes out to you.
Take acre....Marilyn
Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link
Click HERE to
return to ThePoeticLink.com Database Page!