Bipolar Epiphany
/A sonnet on the theme of the author's diagnosis of bipolar disorder and his resolve to not let it define, delimit, or defeat him or his potential and aspirations.
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If I skip sleep or refuse to take my
med's despite my doctor's advice, I hear
radio voices echoing in my ears;
the voices spook me, as no one's nearby
(when I'm bipolar and failing to comply
with doctor's orders). It's awful, I fear,
being committed several times per year
(while my whole life's put on total standby).
Life with my disorder is difficult;
but, it also makes life a real challenge,
a trial to surmount and beat,—to exult
in when I conquer it cold...and don't cringe
from my disease as some unjust result
of fate that's got me grimly on the fringe.
By Ngoc Nguyen
From: United States