I went all the way down, all the way out.
Antagonist of the realm.
So dark, a comfortable chaos,
I am not screaming, I am watching them fly,
up and away.
I was there. I did not stay.
I chose the world, and all the wonder she had to bring
It was of her voice that I would sing,
And in my heart feel her yawning ring.
Now, I carry us forth, my shadow and I,
A skeleton of my former self, and of an ever changing truth,
Shall I forth untold wealth.
For the mind is its own place*, we all see before our eyes,
You are in a dream you die out of*,
And of yours, as am I.
Sail your ship, feel the sway, open your eyes every single day.
Know your doubts and your fears, for forever they shall be near.
*(Inspired by John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Lewis Carol’s Through the Looking Glass)
This was written on the fly before I took off for work one day. I have been suffering depression and anxiety for a majority of my life, and have found the ability to cope through therapy and seeking more nourishing environments and people to surround myself with. I was gifted with artistic ability, and through my life experiences and university studies, (goin’ for the MA in social justice!) I have witnessed and come to understand that creativity is not as welcome in the public sphere as we would wish to believe, due to a fear of change by the majority of any given ‘group’. Behold the human condition. My advice to anyone, friend or not, is to believe in your positive self more than anything, for YOU are all you’ve ever truly known, and that’s a light we need self-reliant strength to hold up to any bully.