Tag Archives: depression

Beautiful Quiet Melody

There was this girl at school
Quiet Melody
was her name.

She used to hide in her hair.

Long and black it was
like a raven’s back
and she used it
as a curtain
so that nobody could see her.

When people addressed her
Melody would wave sheepishly
distantly
as though from another planet
and not say anything at all.

She had this favourite spot
on the floor
that she would stare at.

I often wondered
what she thought about
when she did.

You see,
she had this face
that could pierce your heart
it was just so beautiful.

Thinking back,
it was a real damn shame
that nobody
ever told her that.

I Know the Tigers Are in There Somewhere

You flabby lion.
You meandering drunk.
You self-medicating
self-pitying
self-destructing
squandered soul.

Look at you!
Pathetic.

Let ourselves go,
have we?

I’ve seen livelier
sides of meat
in the lineup at
the Sunday soup kitchen
in hostels
in men’s shelters
and retirement homes.

Don’t tell me that
you’ve given up already
because you look like it
a lot.

I look in your eyes
and it’s like nothing’s
looking back at me
and that’s just no good
so I’m ready to bring out
the jumper cables
the baggies of meth
a shot of adrenaline
anything
to get you going again
like you were before
whatever you’re
going through
this time.

Christ, you’re like
a broken-down car!

If need be I will
pick you up and
shake you down
head to floor
hoping for something
to come out.

Come on!
I know the tigers
are in there
somewhere!