In dappled shadows...
Understanding depression.96 total reviews
Comment from robina1978
Excellent photo that complements your poem perfectly. I did not see the link to depression in the youth. But now I reread I can see. You went back to when you were young. But now you know hope.
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Excellent photo that complements your poem perfectly. I did not see the link to depression in the youth. But now I reread I can see. You went back to when you were young. But now you know hope.
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Imne, for this lovely review, and the empathetic comments, thank you so much, blessings, Roy.
Comment from MizKat
Hi Roy,
I think your poem is beautiful and well written like always. You are a wonderful poet and I always enjoy reading your work. One of these days, I'll hopefully get back to writing. I still have most of this month to go through before I can see the dentist. I hope I can get all my teeth pulled at once so the pain will go away.
Kat
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Hi Roy,
I think your poem is beautiful and well written like always. You are a wonderful poet and I always enjoy reading your work. One of these days, I'll hopefully get back to writing. I still have most of this month to go through before I can see the dentist. I hope I can get all my teeth pulled at once so the pain will go away.
Kat
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Kat, for this wonderful review, most encouraging comments and exceptional rating, I am most grateful, blessings, Roy.
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You're welcome. I always like your work and enjoy reading it.
Comment from alexisleech
For someone who has only experienced depression once, and a long time ago, you portray the thoughts of someone suffering from this horrible affliction really well. Without faith, it is a very difficult thing to overcome, and the last two lines of this wonderful poem says it all for me;
So I'll not fear within this night,
my faith has eyes to clear my sight.
My daughter is a pastor in a church that has saved many a young soul from the depression resulting from their life styles. All wonderful people who didn't know there was something much greater in their lives other than drugs or alcohol.
Here's hoping many more demented souls will see the light.
Alexis xxx
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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For someone who has only experienced depression once, and a long time ago, you portray the thoughts of someone suffering from this horrible affliction really well. Without faith, it is a very difficult thing to overcome, and the last two lines of this wonderful poem says it all for me;
So I'll not fear within this night,
my faith has eyes to clear my sight.
My daughter is a pastor in a church that has saved many a young soul from the depression resulting from their life styles. All wonderful people who didn't know there was something much greater in their lives other than drugs or alcohol.
Here's hoping many more demented souls will see the light.
Alexis xxx
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Alexis, for this lovely review, and the empathetic comments, thank you so much, blessings, Roy.
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Hi Roy - a beautifully penned poem and interesting author notes. Even doctors do not fully understand depression. I am glad it is all behind you and you now write gorgeous poetry, like this one. My brother in his late teens had very bad depression, like you circumstantial I'm pretty sure, but he attempted suicide and was lucky to be found by strangers in Regents Park London by strangers passing by at 5 am in the morning. He's now happily married, a father and grandfather. Thank God. Your faith is strong, I know from your writing. Warm regards Dorothy x
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Hi Roy - a beautifully penned poem and interesting author notes. Even doctors do not fully understand depression. I am glad it is all behind you and you now write gorgeous poetry, like this one. My brother in his late teens had very bad depression, like you circumstantial I'm pretty sure, but he attempted suicide and was lucky to be found by strangers in Regents Park London by strangers passing by at 5 am in the morning. He's now happily married, a father and grandfather. Thank God. Your faith is strong, I know from your writing. Warm regards Dorothy x
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Dorothy, yes it's rife in society, thanks, for this lovely review, and the empathetic comments, thank you so much, blessings, Roy.
Comment from mfowler
I think you've done a superb job of describing depression poetically, offering a spiritual understanding of the solution without loitering too far into the offensive. I mean that in the sense that people who are suffering from depression who have no conduit to faith, or who are so depressed that they only see a medical solution, will inevitably see such a suggestion as do-gooders who really don't know what it means to be in that state. I know there are writers on FS who have found the solution in God. They write about it all the time with a great sense of gratitude. This wonderful opening sounds remarkably like the experience of the prodigal son:
This fated swamp I call my sty,
in dappled shadows here I lie,
That filtered image steals my sight,
prevents the truth, perception's light. ...who is depressed at his loathsome drop from prosperity and the worry over returning home.....deftly done and beautifully expressed.
Your poem cleverly turns on these lines:
For though I swim in murky gloom,
I'll listen not to whispered doom. ...Here, from an examination of the depth of depression, you reveal the love and certainty that you find in Jesus/God, and lyrically, but gently offer the same as hope to sufferers:
Lion of Judah stands with me,
my pain is eased until I see.
And it is in this subjectivity that the witness of faith points to hope. But, you avoided the clichéd hammering of victims with messages of the cross as this only alienates and doesn't invite.
I believe the rampant spread of depression comes from several sources:
1. loss of faith in a pluralistic world
2. lack of resiliency that marked people of the past
3. drug abuse
4. self absorption
5. breakdown of family and common societal values
6. a need to label everything and medicate it; a collusion of medicine and drug based culture
7. the lack of exposure of depression in the past. People did not want to name it. Men would tough it out. I think two world wars and a depression may have brought on a little depression in society
8. materialism; the great unreachable dreams that are just that; the vacuum between what TV, movies, media, advertising offers and what is achievable.
Not in any particular order.
Boy, you got me going with this. Must be worth a sixer.
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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I think you've done a superb job of describing depression poetically, offering a spiritual understanding of the solution without loitering too far into the offensive. I mean that in the sense that people who are suffering from depression who have no conduit to faith, or who are so depressed that they only see a medical solution, will inevitably see such a suggestion as do-gooders who really don't know what it means to be in that state. I know there are writers on FS who have found the solution in God. They write about it all the time with a great sense of gratitude. This wonderful opening sounds remarkably like the experience of the prodigal son:
This fated swamp I call my sty,
in dappled shadows here I lie,
That filtered image steals my sight,
prevents the truth, perception's light. ...who is depressed at his loathsome drop from prosperity and the worry over returning home.....deftly done and beautifully expressed.
Your poem cleverly turns on these lines:
For though I swim in murky gloom,
I'll listen not to whispered doom. ...Here, from an examination of the depth of depression, you reveal the love and certainty that you find in Jesus/God, and lyrically, but gently offer the same as hope to sufferers:
Lion of Judah stands with me,
my pain is eased until I see.
And it is in this subjectivity that the witness of faith points to hope. But, you avoided the clichéd hammering of victims with messages of the cross as this only alienates and doesn't invite.
I believe the rampant spread of depression comes from several sources:
1. loss of faith in a pluralistic world
2. lack of resiliency that marked people of the past
3. drug abuse
4. self absorption
5. breakdown of family and common societal values
6. a need to label everything and medicate it; a collusion of medicine and drug based culture
7. the lack of exposure of depression in the past. People did not want to name it. Men would tough it out. I think two world wars and a depression may have brought on a little depression in society
8. materialism; the great unreachable dreams that are just that; the vacuum between what TV, movies, media, advertising offers and what is achievable.
Not in any particular order.
Boy, you got me going with this. Must be worth a sixer.
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Mark, for this wonderful review, most encouraging comments and exceptional rating, I am most grateful. Yes, we had an email today that a close friend's teenage granddaughter committed suicide due to depression, it seems this had some seasonal application, very supportive, thank you, you are wise. blessings, Roy.
Comment from padumachitta
Hi..this is a good poem , full of hope, and faith.
Depression can draw the faith from ones bones, each day a little less inspiration...I just wish it was as easy as this to stay atop...I liked your poem, it speaks of a brighter light.
padumachitta
if you wish to read my experience with depression, please read Hounded...you do not need to review it...but it is the feel of the occurrence...
thanks again for your poem
padumachitta
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Hi..this is a good poem , full of hope, and faith.
Depression can draw the faith from ones bones, each day a little less inspiration...I just wish it was as easy as this to stay atop...I liked your poem, it speaks of a brighter light.
padumachitta
if you wish to read my experience with depression, please read Hounded...you do not need to review it...but it is the feel of the occurrence...
thanks again for your poem
padumachitta
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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I think I already have read your poem, it was that nicely written work and others that spurred me to write this one, trying to project myself into yours and others shoes, it's been about 50 years since my experience, but I don't want it again, so there was some empathy there, thanks for the great review dear friend! Blessings, Roy
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Hi Roy...I think the more people write...the more we may not have to...later...thanks for your poem.
padumachitta
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My pleasure
Comment from misscookie
I have no more stars to give.
You captured my attention from the start. I can relate to the pain. in fact yesterday it once again return. I gave it alto my Father asking Him to remove my sorrow.
Thank you for sharing.
Cookie
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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I have no more stars to give.
You captured my attention from the start. I can relate to the pain. in fact yesterday it once again return. I gave it alto my Father asking Him to remove my sorrow.
Thank you for sharing.
Cookie
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you dear Cookie, for the great review, and you are such an inspiration, I always appreciate your wonderful faith, and your gracious ways, you remind me of another close friend, Jesus, blessings, Roy.
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You're very welcome. thank you for those kind words. I hope your friend name Jesus is on earth, because I'm not worthy to being in His class. LOL
Cookie
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He makes us worthy Cookie,
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Yes He does.
Cookie
Comment from Shirley E Kennedy
Roy this is so well written and encapsulates so much of the helplessness and darkness sufferers of depression feel.
This is a topic close to my heart for I almost lost a brother to suicide.
His injuries were dreadful and his emotional pain so crippling and prolonged.
Although he recovered after immense life changes, counselling and family support I never feel sure he will never try again.
Faith in God and hope for a brighter future surely can be life changing for sufferers.
:-) Shirley
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Roy this is so well written and encapsulates so much of the helplessness and darkness sufferers of depression feel.
This is a topic close to my heart for I almost lost a brother to suicide.
His injuries were dreadful and his emotional pain so crippling and prolonged.
Although he recovered after immense life changes, counselling and family support I never feel sure he will never try again.
Faith in God and hope for a brighter future surely can be life changing for sufferers.
:-) Shirley
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Shirley, for this wonderful review, most encouraging comments and exceptional rating, I am most grateful, blessings, Roy.
Comment from watergirl
You talk here of a place of lack of clarity and that has a swamp like nature - engulfing one perhaps - this cloudy environment is one that depicts depression well. The faith that brings you through is portrayed well, and one does indeed need an anchor of some kind. Well done.
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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You talk here of a place of lack of clarity and that has a swamp like nature - engulfing one perhaps - this cloudy environment is one that depicts depression well. The faith that brings you through is portrayed well, and one does indeed need an anchor of some kind. Well done.
Comment Written 03-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you for this lovely review, the empathetic comments, thank you so much, blessings, Roy.
Comment from Gloria ....
Ah Roy, there is a big difference between feeling blue, or down because of a situation or event and clinical depression which is a physiological illness that can strike even when the afflicted are in fact feeling great happiness.
I can imagine when major depression hits people during happy times it would be the most confusing, but then again when cancer and other physical diseases strike people are normally ill-prepared and question, why me, why now and rightfully so. The problem with the word "depression" is one of nomenclature. There needs to be new words created to distinguish brain/mood/endocrine diseases as substantially different from typical emotional responses to unpleasant life events.
Having said that, it was wonderful reading how you overcame your situational depression with deep, abiding faith. It has served you well.
The only lines I had a little difficulty with were:
I know in God my lion roared,
Lion of Judah stands with me,
That is just the use of the word lion basically side by side.
Good, solid poetry here though.
Gloria
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Ah Roy, there is a big difference between feeling blue, or down because of a situation or event and clinical depression which is a physiological illness that can strike even when the afflicted are in fact feeling great happiness.
I can imagine when major depression hits people during happy times it would be the most confusing, but then again when cancer and other physical diseases strike people are normally ill-prepared and question, why me, why now and rightfully so. The problem with the word "depression" is one of nomenclature. There needs to be new words created to distinguish brain/mood/endocrine diseases as substantially different from typical emotional responses to unpleasant life events.
Having said that, it was wonderful reading how you overcame your situational depression with deep, abiding faith. It has served you well.
The only lines I had a little difficulty with were:
I know in God my lion roared,
Lion of Judah stands with me,
That is just the use of the word lion basically side by side.
Good, solid poetry here though.
Gloria
Comment Written 02-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2015
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Thank you Gloria, for this lovely review, the empathetic comments, thank you so much, blessings, Roy.
