Balance

Once known as mania or manic depression now known as BPD and BiPolar

I'm dancing

singing

laughing

Colours drip with vibrancy

Sounds reverberate with manifold reflections 

until they are devoid of energy

The flavour of all foods pirhouette along my taste buds

Touch my skin and I will tell you your name

I thirst

I hunger

I desire 

I love

But 

then 

I descend 

dropping at 

freefall to the depths where nothing 

registers but black, dark and bland, numb and negative 

hate takes the place of love; 

where people's thoughts are mine-fields and their bodies 

are putrid decompositions. My own the worst of all.

crying

fearing

sleeping awake

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Well Tony. This is a subject close to my professional heart having been a mental health professional for most of my career. You capture in this the real flavours of the highs and lows of the disorder which is such a debilitating condition. Although in saying so there are many highly creative people who have experienced such fluctuations in their emotions and it fuels their creativity. And it is in any case simply an exaggeration of the normal mood swings moist people experience. Nicely done. Desire twice in the first stanza? Perhaps for emphasis of ther swirling carousel of thoughts?

[Tony Jordan]

I agree John - it is a creative source for many sufferers. I know one woman who declined medicinal efforts for many years because she sadi that exact thing - that she lost her will to create, which for a painter was devastating but more devastating was the eventual rapid-cycling that took place and a near-suicide.

I missed that duplication - thank you so much. 245 views later lol...
:)

[alanwgraham]

I can identify strongly with the up side of the poem as a card (lithium) carrying maniac. It can be fun - up to a point! It's actually uncannily close to my poem manicarus written when I was in full flow. Reading your other reviews we might need to rename this 'the wo/manic cafe'
Cheers, alan

[barleygirl]

Being bipolar, I understand this teeter-totter well. I like the way you use font color to show the distinction between passion & lack of it. The only thing I don't see here is anger . . . some depression isn't the weepy kind. Good direct words to convey the way it can be for some!

[Enchanted-Raven]

Totally relate to this one, being bi-polar myself...live for the highs, tolerate the lows...bleed it out on paper...excellent :) x

[RannunculusBlooms]

wow this is so powerful. i really feel like you captured the essence of bipolar disorder. i really love this piece!

[Poetic License]

Holy moly. This hits entirely too close to home, my friend. I will be back to offer a better and more objective review. At this moment, I feel as though you have gone and exposed my secrets, and I am not entirely comfortable with that! You could not have been more accurate. This...this poem....this offering should be the medical definition. More later.

[Kristina Moulaison]

This is a perfectly done description of bipolarism. Lovely mirrored form to match the content. Interesting idea to present it as a yin and yang situation. Great writing!

[Kesha]

Wow I really enjoyed this piece! My father is bipolar so I know the feelings of this here as I am deathly scared that I may be bipolar since it's hereditary. But either way a wonderful piece

[Tony Jordan]

God! That must be quite a shadow looming. I have seen mother/daughter cases at first hand.
Thank you Ahsek. Sorry you could relate. It's an awful condition if not managed properly.

[Kesha]

Oh it is!
You are very welcome! Yes that is vwery true, it can be quite scary

[apennylate]

I desired, thirsted, and wept as it was sated by the quickly timed lines... Laced with brilliant word choice, and peppered with negative positivity throughout... I fell numb upon finishing this crazy ride... Artfully penned...

[Dr. YumnaKay]

For years I thought I was bipolar too but then I found out I've a knack of changing personalities in different situations lol
As per the context, I think you've portrayed well that feeling of being high and low. And I really liked how you used colours here to describe the mood! Good work, TJ! ☺👍

[Tony Jordan]

I think you describe a skill at adapting your own personality to meet the different situations as opposed to changing personalities in your reply Yumna, my friend. Which is a tremendously advantageous skill to have.
Bipolar are like runaway trains which switch tracks (aka 'cycling') without any control. I saw a friend hyper-cycle once. It was as if they were possessed. Awful sight.
Good morning by the way. I hope you're having a nice day?

[Tony Jordan]

P. S.
Thank you so much for your review. Always appreciated!! :))

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Haha well, I think it's a trait of having introverted thinking that made me like that. But yes in a way you're right!
It's afternoon here, Tony and yeah as boring as can be lol 😛
Hope you're having a nice day as well! And welcome! Always a pleasure immersing in your works ☺

[Tony Jordan]

It's cold here. 10 a. m.
I'm just awake!! Lol
Time for porridge and coffee
(In different vessels lol)
:D

[Dr. YumnaKay]

Hahah okay! I thought you hated coffee? 😂