Depression (in Eight Parts)

My faithful friend, my constant companion

I.

I took a walk once, and
Depression walked alongside me.

"I want to be alone," I told him.

"I know," he replied,
"Why do you think I'm here?"

II.

"I have a plan,"
Depression said to me.

"Not today," I said.

He frowned and asked,
"How did you know my plan?"

III.

I gave the weekend over to Depression
but he took three days
instead of two.

"Think of it as an investment," he said.

"And maybe I'll let you have a Friday night
without regrets."

IV.

Fallen to the floor
I look up and see
he's smiling at me.

"You know what they say
about old dogs."

He's doing this on purpose,
I know he is-
and it's working.

"They can't learn new tricks?"
I asked, playing my part.

"No," he replied,
"They die."

V.

I walked away,
my Trials and Tribulations
defeated behind me.

Depression followed,
but even he took a moment
and whistled low.

"I don't think much of you, but
those were some big guys."

I answered honestly:

"What were they,
compared to you?"

VI.

I looked Depression in the eye
staring without pardon or pause.

"Stop that," he said.

"Why," I asked,
"You nervous?"

He looked away
and said nothing.

VII.

Depression smiled at me
And I smiled back.

"You can't win,"
he told me.

"Winning's not the point,"
and I took my turn on the board.
"The point is to keep playing."

He laughed
but said nothing.

"Your move,"
I told him.

VIII.

I look beside me and see
that Depression and I
never once lost stride.

He's still here,
still with me.

"Who knows," he said.
"Maybe you’ll grow old one day.
We'll sit on rocking chairs,
cursing one another,
still playing our little game."

He smiled, and maybe I did too.
"Better yet," I told him.

"Maybe you won't be around at all."

Reviews

[Damien Thibodeaux]

Fantastic write! This is an awesome piece of work. I loved how you treat Depression as a companion who follows you around and won't leave you alone. I loved it!