Alright, Enough
Introspective and hopefully inspirational poem for anyone who needs it going through dark days.
“That’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end.” ― Elizabeth Wurtzel
Spiralling can happen at any time, I've found. One minute, one hour, one day, one glorious day I will feel fine, right as rain and then the next minute, hour, day I'm drawn into the deepest, darkest, den of despair, detachment, disillusion and disassociation. Floating with feathers barely keeping me from falling for infinity. All it takes is one thought, one dark, grey thought that wrecks me, wretched, woeful me. That I'm as loathsome, repellent and no good as the inner whatever you want to call it, thinks and says loud and clearly that I am... "There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man so disliked."
There are times when I want to say
(so many times, so many times)
"Alright, okay, that's it, enough"
*
breathe
*
When the deep dark won't face away
(deep, deep dark won't face away)
and the bright light won't rise up
*
breathe, you're not choking
*
The days when washing, and normalcy
(days of washing and normalcy)
feel like too much effort, too much
*
breathe
*
And facing the world beyond my door
(facing the world, facing the world)
is something I'd rather just ignore
*
breathe, you're not drowning
*
Those are times when I want to say
(times I want to say, want to say)
"Alright, okay, that's it, enough"
*
breathe
*
Then get up, get out and face today
(get up, get out, face today today)
and let the bright light, shine on
*
breathe, just breathe
*
You see, I know I will feel better
(will feel better, will feel better)
if I put me first, and take a step
*
breathe
*
One step forward, not two or three
(one not two, three, just one step)
one step to calm, one step to care
*
breathe, just breathe
*
One step to balm my soul. to care
(to balm my soul, to balm my soul)
Then I will finally be able to say
"Alright, okay, that's it, I am enough"
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” ― Ernest Hemingway
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: I am okay, just incase you worry. When I wrote this I was dipping into those harder, darker times. Wanted to create something that would make people in similar situations feel less alone and would help them see, no matter how long it takes, there is a way out.
The Elizabeth Wurzel quote is from her book Prozac Nation, the Ernest Heminway is from A Fairwell to Arms and the there is a quote at the end of the opening paragraph from Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, where Mr. Enfield describes Mr. Hyde to Mr. Utterson.
Here are some other things:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (34)
Yes I spotted the Jekyll quote but wanted to confirm and you did! I like the use of that. It’s so true about a moment changing things. I feel that too. Well done - also that opening quotation is an apt pairing.
I would truly appreciate it if a talented writer like you read my stories and poems.
Congratulations on your top story.
Excellent post..
This description accuracy kicks butt! People need to know! Thank you for writing and sharing Paul!
Loved this, Paul!! I'll be revisiting it when I need a good kick in the ass! Congrats on Top Story!!
Congratulations on the Top story topic right on time! beautifully expressed
Very powerful and introspective, my friend. 💙 Congrats on Top Story!
This is so powerful and poignant, Paul. It's a great reminder to just take a breath and breathe. Congrats on the well-deserved Top Story! 🎉
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Don’t know how I missed this one! Sincerest apologies! What a powerful introspective and thought provoking piece, Paul! And very deserving of Top Story! Congrats, friend!
Glad you're ok. You definitely make the world a better place by being in it Paul! Thanks for writing this. Sometimes I struggle too.
So awesome ♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️🏆
Wow, I absolutely loved this. When I write about my own struggles with depression I always feel the need to include a “Don’t worry! I’m fine now.” disclaimer too, but it’s sooooo important to write about this stuff. Well done
A powerful and relatable depiction of the struggle with depression, beautifully balanced with a message of hope and resilience. The use of quotes adds depth and context, making it even more impactful.
😍😍😍😍 Everything about this was absolutely perfect Paul! I can’t express how seen I feel with this. Those days, sometimes just those single thoughts can throw me into the darkest cave and it can take weeks to claw my way back out. That or a hug from just the right person. And that quote at the beginning!? It was perfection! Congrats on an amazingly well deserved Top Story!
I would like to go on record and say once I finally read this one, it became top story... am i the kingmaker now?
Countering each stanza with some form of "breathe" put this whole poem to the pace of deep breathing. Just that is helpful for those tough times but the message in the stanzas is even better. Very hopeful but not in the flashy way, in that subtle way that's often more useful (if I'm making sense). Great poem!
This felt very therapeutic. I don’t suffer from depression but felt a weight being lifted as I read through. We can all use the assistance of positivity whether we realize it or not. Great work, Paul!
This is very calming!!! I felt that your poem was therapeutic!!!
Well-wrought! Jekyll and Hyde was one of my faves as a kid. What a strange inversion in our modern culture, where we are supposed to take the drug to unJekyll our Hyde...
This could be a good poem to read during a depression group as a reminder to breathe and think about something good. Good job.
This felt so liberating and reassuring. And the repeating lines made it seem lyrical as well. Loved your poem!
Good job Paul, a very honest account. Depression is such an insidious thing. It is like the intangible disease - difficult to explain, here one day and gone the next. For anyone who has never experienced depression either personally or for a loved one, it is often met with "just get over it." Those four words do nothing but make you feel worse. If only I could don't you think I would?
This is so important for people to hear! Very reassuring on the darker days. Got to listen to that soothing voice, you're not drowning! Loved this