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