Inevitable
RE:SURGENCE; poems about mental illness
The beast sleeps,
breathing deeply,
snoring loudly -
at peace within
the dirt of its home.
But the wintry air must cease,
just as the hoar frost must melt
before the persistent sun
and blinding light.
___
The beast stumbles out -
anxious and empty,
searching for something
to quench its months-long fast.
Spring is bearable,
but summer makes it worse.
The mirage of waves
tricks the mind to see
what is not there,
but awakens in the chest
a creeping fear of what
will surely come.
___
Leaves dance and fall
from lofty perches.
The wind cools as the sun fades.
Rot permeates the forest.
Animals fight or flee,
preparing for the return of the cold.
Fear has peaked -
anxious energy now at fever pitch.
The heat of the summer pales
in comparison to the roaring
of the hearth within the beast’s bones.
___
White powder falls
like frustrated tears
of defeat and acceptance.
It’s time to sleep -
to conserve what has
hopefully been saved.
But what is there to save
when fear kept the beast
from finding what it needed?
But it does not matter,
for hibernation is the cure
to awareness and responsibility,
and the fire will be doused
by the welcoming darkness
of its den.
___
Hungry eyelids close
on haunted pupils,
pulling the beast along
a listless path,
wandering through dreams
made corporeal,
until it awakes again
from winter’s icy grip
to see daylight once more.
_______
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I wanted to take a brief moment to thank everyone who has commented, liked, or shared my RE:SURGENCE poems. Having three of them make the top story this year has been humbling, to say the least, with one of them literally being my own suicide note that I wrote earlier this year.
In that regard, I want to assure my fellow writers and lovely readers that I am doing much better now and that it is safe to say I have made a near-full recovery. I have more good days than bad, and I am able to function and take care of myself. There are still some things I need to work on and improve, as the wounds from earlier this year have not quite healed, but being able to share my own pain, experience, and creative passions here has helped more than I can put into words.
So thank you, from the bottom of my heart to the Vocal Team, and most importantly to you reading this now.
Remember that your life has value, even if you can't see the meaning in it right now. Tell a person you love how much they mean to you. Take a step outside and breathe in the air. Appreciate the little things. Take that step, even if it is scary.
You got this!
- Amanda Starks
This is the 17th poem in RE: SURGENCE, a poetry collection by Amanda Starks that shares what it's like to have and fight against mental illness in a free-form, lyrical prose.
Be aware that topics and themes may include suicide, self-harm, and isolation.
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If you want a free copy of RE: SURGENCE in an online, fully formatted PDF document, subscribe to my email newsletter at www.amandastarks.com ( found under the CONTACT tab ), and it will be in your inbox once all the poems have been published here!
About the Creator
Amanda Starks
Lover of the dark, fantastical, and heart-wrenching. Fantasy writer, poet, and hopefully soon-to-be novelist who wants to create safe spaces to talk about mental health. Subscribe to my free newsletter at www.amandastarks.com for updates!
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (4)
Love this so much, it is like the inhale and exhale of life. Perfectly caputred inevitability and how irritating powerlessness can feel.
Extremely well done!
Beautifully written. The extended metaphor of the beast is so carefully done. Stunning! I am heartened to hear that you are doing well. I hope the daylight hugs you tightly as you navigate ito a beautiful future 🤍
What a wonderfully symbolic poem with great storytelling woven within. I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing better now, and I wish you even better days to come. ❤️❤️❤️