Schizophrenic
Her ocean of mental illness31 total reviews
Comment from 20hrockwell
My favorite line: "The weight of her shadows won't let her breathe"
The poem itself is clearly stylistically frantic and I love it. Very well articulated and executed. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2022
  |
My favorite line: "The weight of her shadows won't let her breathe"
The poem itself is clearly stylistically frantic and I love it. Very well articulated and executed. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 12-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 14-Mar-2022
-
20 Rockwell,
I do not know where you found this work, but I thank you sincerely.
JlS
Comment from Frank Malley
I could've read this poem, "Schizophrenic," more searchingly, but I read it once and it made its point: schizophrenia is a scraping of possibility from the core of a person. The somewhat coy ending takes an easy way out, I think; this powerful poem would have been stronger if it ended with a carefully chosen image of terrible paradox.
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2022
|
I could've read this poem, "Schizophrenic," more searchingly, but I read it once and it made its point: schizophrenia is a scraping of possibility from the core of a person. The somewhat coy ending takes an easy way out, I think; this powerful poem would have been stronger if it ended with a carefully chosen image of terrible paradox.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2022
-
Frank Malley,
Special thank you for such a pleasant surprise. I have no idea how you found this work for it has not been promoted, but I am grateful for your input.
How would you implement your suggestion? I am open to all suggestions and criticism when it comes to my work.
Again, thank you so very much. I am honored.
jlsavell
Comment from MissMerri
I honestly thought I had reviewed this long ago. I remember reading it and thinking how amazingly you describe this illness. It is clear your understanding is far deeper than most people will ever have. But your poem describes it in such an empathetic way. I loved the similes and metaphors. It is a work of art, hauntingly beautiful. You should write more. Definitely.
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2021
 |
I honestly thought I had reviewed this long ago. I remember reading it and thinking how amazingly you describe this illness. It is clear your understanding is far deeper than most people will ever have. But your poem describes it in such an empathetic way. I loved the similes and metaphors. It is a work of art, hauntingly beautiful. You should write more. Definitely.
Comment Written 14-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 14-Nov-2021
-
Adonna,
What a pleasant surprise! Good to hear from you. This was so totally unexpected.
Life has been very busy. I am sure you can relate.
My daughter in laws mother is a schizophrenic along with beginning stages of Alzheimer?s. I visit her regularly, in fact took her to dinner yesterday. Some moments she?s lucid and the next- it is unpredictable.
Also, the young lady I wrote of worked beside me for many years. She was very candid about her disease. I don?t know why she confided in me and always chose to work during my shift. Most times, she insisted which was often troubling to management. But I always supported her and managed to convince the other managers she just needed to blossom and she felt comfortable with my teaching her. Since she confided in me, I asked her what it was like when she had episodes. Often times she would say- Ms. Jimi- if I appears short or agitated, it?s because I am having an episode but my meds are taking the edge off if a scary ride.
My heart cried for her. She was only 26 and her aged grandparents raised her. Her mother abandoned her at 4.
As I have told you, I have many friends who are mental health professionals. A few I talk to on a regular basis because they are just fascinating individuals as to how they chose such a profession. They give me such great insight on people. It isn?t that I agree with them on everything, because often I think they are textbook only and forget the nuances of individuality. It is kind of hard to explain.
In my life, I have run across many individuals who have pretty severe issues. Some are hard to spot and some are quite evident by their expressions or behavior. Though, I am far from any expert, it doesn?t take much for any individual to understand something is quite wrong- not because they have a quirky personality- but it?s the way they communicate and perceive the outside world. I mean when a person tells you there?s a chip in his/her tv which is going to explode because it?s on a timer- that?s not quirky- that is a serious sign of something not right. Yes, that has been told to me.
My friends oldest daughter- now 24- has severe issues exacerbated by drug abuse. She has a three year old son whom her mother has taken custody of.
I attended little ones birthday and his mother began unintelligent gibberish and then would spit out the most hateful things to her own mother and then suddenly get down on the floor and crawl like a baby. It is tragic and what is more tragic is those in attendance are aghast and some become judgmental. It is disheartening because society has put such a stigma on mental illness.
There are many instances across the United States where individuals are having episodes. Whether it?s Schizophrenic, bi polar or other mental issues. They have a tendency to create a disturbance and it is frightening to the on lookers. 911 is called and up roll the police. Sadly, the police are not professionally equipped or trained to deal with these issues and it escalates. The individual is subjected to further humiliation by being arrested. This is the ever burdensome protocol. To make matters worse, the police have to feel out hours of paperwork and that particular call could have kept them from a true urgent crime matter. Instead, city governance should have trained mental health professionals at or near police headquarters to follow suit and disarm, meaning to calm, the individual and then call an ambulance or be prepared to take them for help instead of the jail. Statistically, they rarely have any kind of weapon which can harm them or the onlookers.
Well I could talk all day on issues which I care deeply about. But who wants to listen. Eh?
Again, thank you so very much. I am humbled.
Have a great day
Jimi
Comment from Badger_29
I found this writing to be poignant and moving, sad, tragic account of one who is battling with oneself. Very well written, written from a perspective of one who suffers . . . . .
Blessings,
Brother Badger
Darren
reply by the author on 13-Aug-2021
|
I found this writing to be poignant and moving, sad, tragic account of one who is battling with oneself. Very well written, written from a perspective of one who suffers . . . . .
Blessings,
Brother Badger
Darren
Comment Written 11-Aug-2021
reply by the author on 13-Aug-2021
-
Darren( Badger) ,
Thank you ever so much for your exceptional review. It means a great deal, more than I can express, for many reasons, but one which must be acknowledged is that it was never promoted and has been sitting in portfolio for a year or so, which means to me, it?s premise caught your attention while scrolling through others work. I am truly humbled. Thank you, thank you-
Jimi
-
You are so welcome, thanks for the acknowledgment of my acknowledgment!
Blessings,
Brother Badger Cull
Darren
Comment from Possummagic
The depth and emotion in this poem is raw and it's papable. I have Bipolar and my son has schizophrenia so I understand the roller coaster that is life itself. You express yourself so wonderfully. You, my son and I have the worst possible diagnosis of mental illness, yet look at the creativity we possess. I recently posted a poem "Titled Bipolar can be fun" perhaps we should join forces and publish a book to help people to understand that it's not just a diagnosis... this is our lives!! M x
reply by the author on 16-Feb-2021
|
The depth and emotion in this poem is raw and it's papable. I have Bipolar and my son has schizophrenia so I understand the roller coaster that is life itself. You express yourself so wonderfully. You, my son and I have the worst possible diagnosis of mental illness, yet look at the creativity we possess. I recently posted a poem "Titled Bipolar can be fun" perhaps we should join forces and publish a book to help people to understand that it's not just a diagnosis... this is our lives!! M x
Comment Written 16-Feb-2021
reply by the author on 16-Feb-2021
-
I am thrilled and humbled you found this poem to be worthy of a six.
I will certainly read your poem.
Although I don?t suffer from any of these illnesses, I have friends and family members who do.
This happens to be about a young beautiful lady I work with. Early on she confided in me her disease. I thought it very courageous of her. To say I was extremely humbled that she trusted me to be so transparent about her struggles. It a priceless gift.
Also, my daughter in law?s mother suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. It has become a gratifying friendship and my heart aches for her. There are moments when we do have the funniest conversations and then times they can be very disconcerting. She?s a beautiful soul.
I have another friend who is bi-polar and another with BPD. Both are often intense and all I am capable of going is being there in hopefully to assist them in bringing them up when the occasion arises or bringing them down when the occasion arises. Both are very different and as you know, with bi polar- their episodes can last for days.
Thank you for sharing with me and also telling you and your son?s story through writing. I think it is pushed under the table because most do not understand it. I am not saying I understand it completely, but it is my compassion and empathy for these people which -I feel- helps me be there for them.
I don?t know if I would be the person to co author writing with you. I have never considered myself a true writer.
As for you- I see from your profile that you are definitely an accomplished writer.
Again, I am humbled and thank you so very much.
Jimi
-
Thank you so much, please continue to spread the message. We have mental illness not leprosy. One day with people like me and you in their/my corner it will have less of a stigma. X
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Wow. This is powerful, and scarily, all too real, for so many who suffer from the disease. It can creep up on one slowly or suddenly crash in, like a break or major shift, in reality, has happened. A recovery is arduously slow, but I believe, can be possible. It may take decades to undo, but it can be lessened. Even, to a (somewhat) functional type of living. Thank you for writing and posting this. You contribute worthily, to the understanding, of the severely mentally ill.
Jesse
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2021
|
Wow. This is powerful, and scarily, all too real, for so many who suffer from the disease. It can creep up on one slowly or suddenly crash in, like a break or major shift, in reality, has happened. A recovery is arduously slow, but I believe, can be possible. It may take decades to undo, but it can be lessened. Even, to a (somewhat) functional type of living. Thank you for writing and posting this. You contribute worthily, to the understanding, of the severely mentally ill.
Jesse
Comment Written 04-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2021
-
Jesse, what a pleasant surprise. I am very humbled. Thank you ever so much. I don?t know where you found this, but your words and review are so encouraging and appreciated. Thank you again, ever so much.,
May you have a prosperous New Year!
Jimi
-
You are very welcome, Jimi. Your poem hit a nerve with me, and I hope that others have a chance to read this as I did. There is so much confusion and mistrust of the severely mentally ill, and you help to dispel some of those myths.
I wish you peace and contentment in 2021 and beyond.
Jesse
Comment from Kingsrookviii
Su=imply amazing work, use of language and deep meaning. This is a trip into the psyche and core of wavering consciousness; clearly, speaking of the laborious void that constitutes the vacuum of mental despair, pain and confusion that this accompanies. I can't say enough good about this piece. This is the stuff I love to find, read and can learn from. Really, what you've given me her is a foundation to help me go deep and see what this can inspire from within me to express such inexpressible angst and terror. Absolutely magnificent.
reply by the author on 17-Nov-2020
|
Su=imply amazing work, use of language and deep meaning. This is a trip into the psyche and core of wavering consciousness; clearly, speaking of the laborious void that constitutes the vacuum of mental despair, pain and confusion that this accompanies. I can't say enough good about this piece. This is the stuff I love to find, read and can learn from. Really, what you've given me her is a foundation to help me go deep and see what this can inspire from within me to express such inexpressible angst and terror. Absolutely magnificent.
Comment Written 16-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 17-Nov-2020
-
Wow, thank you ever so much. I haven?t posted anything in perhaps a year. Not for certain. I am truly humbled and honored that you would remember me much less review an unprompted piece. I?m rarely on here to review or write anymore. Again a huge thank you! Hope you are doing well.
Jimi
Comment from lightink
This is the most amazingly loving poem ever, and I wish everyone who has this level of suffering due to mental health issues could read it - and everyone else, who has no idea what to make of it, too. What I most appreciate is the poem surpassing the idea of compassion, and this person sees much more, a real, unadulterated worth in the beautiful, suffering being. Also, I very much appreciate these lines that show so clearly those fears:
"The clock is ticking, but what it's really doing
is exclaiming in bullet points
.What if I take a shower, and It takes me down the drain?
.What if he finds me naked and sees the worms oozing from my skin?
.What if the bridge collapses and he's there pushing me under and I drown-
drown in the enormity of my missing
pieces?""
Finally, the poem ends on the common denominator - we all have our demons.
Such powerful piece!
reply by the author on 28-Jun-2020
|
This is the most amazingly loving poem ever, and I wish everyone who has this level of suffering due to mental health issues could read it - and everyone else, who has no idea what to make of it, too. What I most appreciate is the poem surpassing the idea of compassion, and this person sees much more, a real, unadulterated worth in the beautiful, suffering being. Also, I very much appreciate these lines that show so clearly those fears:
"The clock is ticking, but what it's really doing
is exclaiming in bullet points
.What if I take a shower, and It takes me down the drain?
.What if he finds me naked and sees the worms oozing from my skin?
.What if the bridge collapses and he's there pushing me under and I drown-
drown in the enormity of my missing
pieces?""
Finally, the poem ends on the common denominator - we all have our demons.
Such powerful piece!
Comment Written 28-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 28-Jun-2020
-
Lightink,
Wow, I am very humbled by this review. Very humbled. Thank you so very much. This is truly an honor.
Also, thank you for fanning me. Again quite humbling. Yes, I am quiet this year but I will return soon to posting and writing.
Again thank you so very much.
Jimi
-
I'm glad you are planning to return. I only half returned and a bit out of it, missing old like minded poets. This was such an awesome piece. Warmth, J
Comment from Cycler
Beautiful write, ma'am. You have such a way about you, setting the mood, drawing pictures with your words, and drawing us into the circumstance.
And I love the way you care.
Thanks for sharing this!
|
Beautiful write, ma'am. You have such a way about you, setting the mood, drawing pictures with your words, and drawing us into the circumstance.
And I love the way you care.
Thanks for sharing this!
Comment Written 14-Dec-2019
Comment from Joan E.
I am sorry about the delay in responding, but the Baltic cruise ship had an unstable internet signal. We are home now and I am pleased to read your poem. Your portrayal of mental illness and the striking artwork you selected are very effective. Comparing her "demons" to "passionate harpists" is memorable, along with the "bullet points" metaphor. Your final stanza is quite thought-provoking as well. Sighs- Joan
|
I am sorry about the delay in responding, but the Baltic cruise ship had an unstable internet signal. We are home now and I am pleased to read your poem. Your portrayal of mental illness and the striking artwork you selected are very effective. Comparing her "demons" to "passionate harpists" is memorable, along with the "bullet points" metaphor. Your final stanza is quite thought-provoking as well. Sighs- Joan
Comment Written 15-Aug-2019