Poem - Animals

A gifted artist friend asked online how many of her followers were impacted by a mental illness. A number of brave people posted, admitting specifics to their struggles. This inspired me to write the poem “Animals”. Mental illness is the elephant in the middle of many rooms, as well as the bat in the belfry and the snake in the lake.


Animals

Bats in the belfry
snakes in the lake
how many do struggle
with sanity's grasp?

The ailments are varied
the sadness the same
when the soundness is lack
in the brain's grasp of life.

Depression folds dark to light
with weights to hold it down
to depths below where most can see
a journey only one can take.

Anxiety rings the siren call
at phantoms most cannot see
as real as terra firma
enveloping like the fog ephemeral.

Bipolar is the meanest gift
cruel in giving while quick in take
one step forward is heaven sent
three steps back are near at hand.

These creatures hide in plain sight
on lover's backs and in family's minds
hidden behind the straining smile
juggled with the hurried life.

The animals may have their day
too many nights spent in company
I pray to God this is not true
in the towers and in the tarns.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160616.