Compassionate Love: Displaying compassion for those who struggle with mental illness   (c)2014 Nancy Virden

My blogs are not usually poetry- and maybe you will argue this one isn’t either- but it is a story. That much is consistent. Enjoy!

 

Nancy was in a gymnasium

With crowds of other folk

She grew uncomfortable seein’

How each one tried to cope

 

Games were being played

People scurrying about

She  saw her chance to join in

So stood before the crowd

 

Nancy called, “Captain!”

Which meant she got to choose

Whether her team would be yellows

Or could she win with the blues?

 

Players lined up for Nancy to see

Five blue, one yellow stood

Flexing their muscles and struttin’ their stuff

They seemed an intimidating brood

 

Clearly the blues offered more options

Their names emblazoned on their chests

Shame, Depression, and Fear

Joined with Defeat and Loneliness

 

Nancy had seen these blues in action

Had witnessed their power to kill

She’d  once believed they always win

Maybe they could still

 

The blues argued between themselves

“I’m the stronger” “No, me”

“Depression leads the charge!”

“No one beats Defeat!”

 

As she  watched the chaos of blue

And  glanced  again at yellow

Calmly he stood,  the gentle giant

He  was a strappin’ fellow.

 

Playing  with the blues had once drained her,

The game had not been fun

Aligned with those five mean bullies

She’d been overcome

 

Yellow never forced his way forward

Just waited, ready to be employed

Nancy wanted to see what he could do

So made her decision, “I choose Joy.”

*****

NOTE: I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I speak only from personal experiences with and observations of mental illness. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental health care.