Comment from Mitchell Brontė

Excellent

Hi
Really enjoyed this hard hitting poem, which flowed effortlessly,
lovely rhythm and lines throughout, stitched fantastically well
which enables your words to sell themselves to the reader.
I particularly enjoyed the imagery shown which paints such a vivid picture in the mind......an excellent poem, that was a pleasure to read.
Mitchell.

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017

Thank you so much for the thorough review Mitchell. It's good to get such specific commentary on one's work. It doesn't happen to come to me that way - I don't know how it becomes what it does - mysterious process to me. Thanks again, Anita.

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written poem about depression and how it all started with a thought in our mind that escalates and grow until it become overpowering and you are caught insude with no hope to get out.

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

Yes, it how it works it's insidious ways. Thanks for the review Sandra. Cheers Anita

Comment from jaded831

Excellent

Dark, deep interesting all at the same time. The reader can feel chills like watching a scary movie. Your poem moved me, you captured depression admirably. Your poem gets a thumbs up. I also struggle with depression so I know what it feels like.

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

It's a place that is so hard to describe I wonder whether only others who've experienced it recognize it? Sorry you're one. Hope you have good ways to help your self and strong hands to hold and of course a Grand Angel to mind your back, Love, Anita.

Comment from Irish Rain

Excellent

Oh, so sad. I love the last lines about Thomas. Really great. My sister suffered depression, and wound up committing suicide a few years ago. A shame. Wonderful poem, blessings...

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

Oh I'm so sad to hear about your sister Irish Rain - Blessings be with her Spirit and with you, Love Anita.

reply by Irish Rain on 10-Aug-2017

How sweet of you, thank you!!

Comment from Drew Delaney

Excellent

Yes, I know all about it. Lived with anxiety attacks for most of my life.

You kind of lost me with Thomas. Is it doubting Thomas to whom you are referring?

Great piece!

Drew

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

Yes it's Doubting Thomas. For me it's that time when the episode is pretty much over, but you don't believe it and you keep poking at the wounds to make sure they're healed, keep having just one more look at 'that' incident that drove you into panic to see if it will do so again. That's what happens to me anyway, I come out slowly and fearfully back into the world.
You've had it hard too - all your life - me too - didn't know what they were of course. Did you? You must have learnt some fine coping skills! Love, blessings, Anita

reply by Drew Delaney on 10-Aug-2017

I always got a strange pain in my left arm. I swore I was having a heart attack, and thought I was dying. Even my head would go numb.

Haven't had one for about a year now. I am now 71. One time I called my mom and dad. At first, I couldn't remember their phone number of all things. Finally it came to me. It was the middle of the night. When my dad answered, I could hardly speak. It was as though I has a stroke or something. They came over and my mom had medication for her nerves. It helped me settle. Then I was on meds for over 25 years.

Comment from Alcreator Litt Dear

Excellent

This speaks about living with a mad man in the house, there is always an insidious nature of depression and it's little mate the panic-attack in him but in love and care attitude goes off; I liked.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

Your 'take' on a work is always so much 'bigger' than expected. Thanks for that. It is great food for thought for what even I am writing - this is a goog lesson for me, thank you.

Comment from Dean Kuch

Excellent

"Do you know where the
Mad Mind lives?
Do you know at all?

Do you know where the
Sad Mind lives?
Do you know at all?" ...Hah! YOU are asking ME?
Hahahahahahaha!
Oh yeah, I do.
Believe me, Anio, I do indeed.
It rarely tinkles, however, and it never scares me...not anymore.
You can become acclimated to anything when you have to.
Nice write.

 Comment Written 09-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

Yes you do get desensitized to it, and that's when you can write about it. And when it happens again you're right, you can walk through it instead of scampering, whimpering and flailing. It's easier. Not quite a walk in the park but nor is it that trip through the labrynth anymore either.
Thanks for the review.

Comment from emptypage

Excellent

Beautifully and deliberately crafted piece, with some of the best imagery I've encountered in some time. My favorite line is this:

one bright day
A hand will lift your hood
That dendrites and all other things
Are doing rather good.
You don't believe a word of it,
Though it's happened lots before,
You're just like Thomas -
Poking,

I am a Thomas. I think he gets a really bad rap.

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

Thanks so much for you review. It's so good to meet a fellow Thomas! I get heaps for it, but many bad things would have happened if it hadn't been for my poking around you know, just one more time... HA! Cheers Anita.

Comment from sueseagull

Excellent

Anio-
This is a very powerful poem in many ways. It is very complicated and I had to read it several times and I still don't think I understand it all! The picture intrigued me and I think it makes a very good association with your work
The poem seems to me to have a sing-song quality to it which I liked.
Can you please explain to me the 5th stanza about the bits of glass and the eyes and ears?(curiosity) Perhaps you might consider in the 6th stanza theses corrections: escape presentS (adding the "S") and same line "TO" instead of "for".
Also, another question... "dendrites" I am assuming is referring to a positive response to medication?

If this is too many questions or feel I am asking to me questions, please feel free to just tell me so! LOL. Hope to hear back from you.

 Comment Written 07-Aug-2017

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2017

sueseagull, thanks for your review, and your questions.
re the glass:
this refers specifically to boxing - to a boxer's 'glass jaw', which means he is unable to take too much punishment to his chin or jaw, that is, this is his weak spot and the one his adversary will aim for. When in panic I feel very fragile, like glass, vulnerable, like my skin's so thin everyone can see in- I'm like a radio station with all channels turned on and my head feels like it's going to explode - like if a soprano sang a note of a certain vibration it would crack like a wineglass.
Yes, the 'dendrites' and other things which are the synapses and chemical channels do refer to the medications that have control over those tiny bits of the body to help with this awful condition.
I'll look at the changes you suggest - thanks.
I'd like to really thank you for reading this work several times and trying to 'get it'. What you are trying to do is very difficult and it's posed in the opening stanzas. I wonder whether someone who hasn't suffered from these conditions can imagine what it's like. I give you 6 stars for reviewing and persisting. ****** Love Anita