Recover(ed)

A look at my mental state in the thick of my depression and in the beginning of my recovery

7/29/14

 

The rest of me hang stifled

In the shirtdress on the wall

A silk sham of skin

Not shed

But on hold for my return

Whereupon I imagine embroidered summer strawberries

A patchwork pattern of my recovery

Stitched low into the pockets

So that when scab becomes scar

I may carry on

Twiddling in my pocket all the while

The memory of the summer I grew back into my skin

 

 

 

                                                1/6/15

 

It is January now

 

I have made a sort of career

Out of sewing my skin

Back to my bones

Some days I misplace needles

Or fray the tails of my thread

But I never fail to remind myself

That I wouldn’t be sewing in the first place

Had I not made the trip to the dry cleaner’s early October

To pick up my shirtdress

I still had the receipt

Crumpled in the pocket of my exposed veins

 

Never too late to become me

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Tracie D'Angelo]

I read the first part and didn't realize there was a second part! Honestly, I would have kept it at just the first part. Not that there is anything wrong with either part. In the first part, I really liked the idea of not shedding skin, but just hanging it up for the moment. I saw hope in the words. The second part had a much different voice to it and didn't really fit with the first. It was a bit choppy and explained more with words rather than images.

[Rick Puetter]

Very nice. Creative in it's metaphors, and very expressive. And you can feel the limpness of depression. And you can feel the need to heal. I enjoyed this a lot.

Very best regards and high marks!

Rick

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful poetry. Had the honest tone of Kosinski. He painted words and thoughts like you do. Making the reader see and believe his words. The poem told of raw skin and sewing body part together. Honest and direct thoughts make the poem feel real. Was a worthwhile read and thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[SuspectGray]

It can be an out of body experience especially looking back and wondering who that was