Turn

Tick, tock, tick tock...

Watch the numbers on the clock.

How long will you stay this time?

What will happen when you turn?

I feel alright, but that means nothing.

I feel the burn, and start to see red...

How many monsters are hiding in my head?

Self-aware of only three,

One of them, an alter-ego

One of them is me.

The one I do not mention often,

is one that lives off blackness.

She is in shackles, laughing at my attempt

to keep her tamed.

Violence, anger, murder, cynicism;

Harleen is her given name.

A psychopathic clown, favorite color red,

the color of blood; the life force of us all.

She is a demon, an evil, so strong

She has no conscience, she knows not what is wrong.

She takes over when I'm weak,

Her apathy makes her say out loud

what I am too afraid to speak.

Seeing this body be abused, raped, self-mutilated...

She is angry, and wants vengeance.

All the anger I repress, goes to her;

a target I hold onto, an accidental invention

made by a fragile teenage girl,

regardless of my pure intentions,

and has carried into my adult years.

She knows me in and out, knows my dreams

as well as my fears.

She laughs in the face of danger,

because all she feels is anger.

She speaks up when I feel weak, or worthless,

and helps my self-esteem.

But sometimes, when I sleep at night,

I can hear her scream...

Author's Note

Wrote this today. I struggle with multiple personalities.

Reviews

[Regina K. Pride]

Wow, I've never read anything like this before. I liked it. I'm sorry you actually struggle with this. I also see your poem as relatable to people that don't have multiple personalities. I related to it at least. I saw it as my opposite side, my alter ego. It's like when someone does something against me I'm forced to make a decision. Part of me wants revenge, but then another part of me's like no don't do that, you'll get in trouble. I usually side with the side that doesn't seek revenge, but still I wonder what would've happened if I did seek revenge.

With that being said, I loved how you began with the clock to signify your anxiousness about the "turning." I also liked how you lost most of the rhyming as the poem progressed. Was that intentional? And then that stanza ends with you questioning whether or not you know all you need to know about your mind. Very psychological. Good job! :)

[Cassie]

Thank you so much! It was harder to rhyme as it went on so I guess it was kinda intentional. Thanks for the awesome review!