If you know, you know

Letting out the toxins slowly so they don't overwhelm the system, creating beauty despite the pain. Well-wrought, friend!

Felt this one Paul. Beautifully expressed but so sad nontheless. So often blackout has felt like a good out x Take care 🤍

Oh shit. I'll believe you when you say you're okay, but knowing that these thoughts have occurred to you means that you haven't been okay in the past, and damn, that is a whole ass story right there. Your stellar poetic voice is really shining bright in this one. The repetition of "if you know you know" and "easy for me" is my favorite part of this; each line creates the rhythm of the piece, frames off particular transitions/themes, like drowning versus falling versus crashing. I can't say I know, exactly, but I kind of do. I relate to the sadness and hopelessness and the hatred of life, but I'm very glad to read the end of this one, as it pokes some holes of hope into the fabric of wanting it all to be over. Fantastic. Ditto to Poppy; my favorite of yours so far. But of course, it's impossible to land on a favorite with your work.

Holey moley, that good. And Rae, and powerful. Well done, Buddy.

Well, I know. Glad you're with us to share this story, and all your others. And then also, like, ditto to everything Poppy said. <3

I'm adding this to my mental list of favourites. The short punchy lines made it so raw and impactful. "lights red time green" I was drawn in by this line but ended up admiring the poem more and more as it went on. "if you know, I'm sorry" That was utterly heartbreaking. If this poem had've found me at a different time, that simple line would've probably brought me to tears. "hope is there lift it give it" So simple and yet powerful. "headlights searchlights don't need to be the end" That ending was the most perfect finish to this marvelous poem. Truly, a beautiful poem - acknowledging the depths of depression etc but still offering hope. I'm going to ignore the subtitle though and make sure, are you doing okay?

Glad you're okay. Well written. Good stuff.

I'm glad you're okay. Still, the words ring far too true for many of us even to make it to your closing adjurations. Yep, next appointment is 11 a.m. Wednesday. We'll see.

I think this is a common intrusive thought. Thanks for sharing this! ☺️ Have a swell day!

Gosh, this was so intense and quite unsettling. Like we gotta always stay vigilant. I'm just glad you're okay but still sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️

Ouch. This poem was such a kick in the gut.😣 I love the statement of the search party. Like you were saying how lost you were, and that they'd never find you. As always, wonderful writing, Paul. Truly poignant and powerful.

Where poetic grit meets the road. No apologies. This...is what it does for us. Bravo Brave One!

Pulling no punches with the hard hitting stuff, today! Did you write it as verses? Sometimes I do that but V loses line breaks.

Oh goodness. I could feel my chest tightening half way through that. Oof. Glad you are ok. This reels and that picture is ace!

Paul you are a brilliant writer. So glad that Hope emerged to offer support. Blessings to you always. Hope you feel better soon.

Quite powerful

You knew you knew...

Well written. If you know, you know.

I love this expression of pain inherited.

Oh the pain of a car accident Good poem

Glad you're okay! That gave me anxiety, lol. Not in a bad way, it's just the effect the words had, racing down the page. Well done!!!

Yep. If you know you know.

Auto collision desires 👏 well written!