Shattered and Whole

A poem about living with PTSD

I am one of 5.2 million grown men and women

Some with jobs and classes and partners and pets and children

Who cry out at night and thrash in their sleep

From the terror of the night that runs so deep

My hands quake from chaos AND from cure

No one doctor is ever sure

Sometimes I'm numb, frozen from the inside out

And no one can hear my pleas, despite how I shout

There's danger, danger everywhere

And not a drop of peace to spare

My mind is racing like NASCAR

My brain and heart like to spar

I've talked and talked until I don't feel real

Yet sometimes I'm dazed behind the wheel

But I have faith that I will overcome

And I won't say I'm finished until all is done

Author's Note

This is meant to be read out loud, spoken word style.

Reviews

[emipoemi]

Ho-ly kwap!! It's all powerful, profound, and well structured. The only error is that the expression, as far as I'm concerned is "NOT one doctor is ever sure". But everything else is simply divine. Well freaking done! You get up on stage and you give this bad boy the recitation that it deserves!

[Rachel Richardson]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate how you've been following my work.

[emipoemi]

Just doing my duty as a fellow writer (....and mentor-in-training).

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

I've never had PTSD but I've been through
Battles in life Jesus has gotten me through and I'm going through some painful ones in marriage being with the wrong person that's dark a toxic relationship but prayers help and God is always in control some days it's good other days not but I was in tears when I read this. Very nicely done. Blessings

[Rachel Richardson]

Thank you, Benita!

[Benita-Staebell M - KindredPoet]

You're welcome :)

[Writer at last! Sky ~]

And I won't say I'm finished until all is done. I really think this is meant to be read out loud, spoken word style as it true holds a lot in words. Good one!

[Rachel Richardson]

Thank you, Sky!!!

[Writer at last! Sky ~]

Welcome Rachel!!!

[Bare trees]

There are many writers on WC who have PTSD. A lot of people here have been raped or abused in some way. I know because I've talked to so many who have it. It can be a battle of the heart and mind.

Your poem brings the battle of it into focus well, in whatever capacity it happened to you.

[Rachel Richardson]

Thank you for recognizing the struggle between the heart and mind. I recently read an excellent poem about that same struggle in relation to grief. "Head, Heart" by: Lydia Davis. I recommend it. It's only 10 lines, yet it knocked the breath out of me.

[Bare trees]

I will certainly look. You're welcome.

[grayscale]

Very emotional, from the heart, and I like your disclaimer of it being spoken aloud, it does change it.
Thank you for sharing.