In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month (even if it was yesterday of this post), I have written a poem to describe the importance of mental health. The world we live in seems to look away from mental health and always calls those suffering with it as 'lazy' or 'burdens'. Almost nobody considers taking the chance to listen to another's problems and trying to help them. Little Bird was written to show how the ignorance of the human mind is what causes suicide rates to go up. Not the 'video games', 'media', nor 'school'; it has always been one's own ignorance.
There's nothing I have wanted more.
I'm tired of the fantasy we are chasing,
When the tracks have already been covered-
Don't you remember the last day of December?
Just you and me running outside of the school yard,
Our faces were left scarred.
With nothing but the gusts of wind chasing us.
There is nothing I have wanted more.
Everyday we face a new challenge,
Having to be beaten black and blue-
As everyone around us laughs.
We were simply living like Annie.
Don't you remember the last day of January?
Cluttered together in a locker,
As the door slammed shut behind us.
But we were never afraid,
Don't you recall our deal?
It will always just be you and me!
There is nothing I have wanted more.
Everyday has felt like a war,
Gunshots of fists flying over our heads.
What's the point of cowering in a foxhole?
When bombs are lighting up the night.
Don't you remember the last day of February?
I found you on the ground-
Black and blue bruises mirrored every inch of your body,
And everyone seemed to just turn their backs away.
But I carried you to safety,
Because we are together forever.
There is nothing I have wanted more.
I've been counting the days,
Just counting the scars- the bruises.
Every second I live in pain-
And the pills are no longer helping my soreness.
Without being beaten down,
But you can't hear me screaming-
But you can't hear me begging!
Don't you remember the last day of March?
Your attendance started to plummet before everyone's eyes;
You went from being gone once a month,
You went from being gone once a week,
To being gone almost every week.
I tried to see what was wrong,
Offered to even walk with you to and from school.
But you were always sick,
There is nothing I have wanted more.
I'm getting tired of being here,
Days passing slower than a snail race,
But nobody seems to realize how brain-dead we are.
I haven't felt well for years,
And this sickness is clawing on my insides;
Hidden from everyone's eyes.
Don't you remember the last day of April?
I was given a call by your mom,
Woe filled her voice as she told me to come quick-
Told me to run and never look behind me.
Her words lingered in my head as I jolted down the road,
Passing cars left and right;
Trying my best to make it to your side.
There is nothing I have wanted more.
Every day that I look outside of my window,
I just want to spread my wings and fly away.
When my wings have been chained to my back,
And left with open wounds constantly bleeding out.
Don't you remember the last day of May?
I visited your gravestone everyday,
Left you a bouquet of your favorite flowers,
Because your nose deserves to be up for once.
I'm sorry for your sickness,
I'm sorry I could never free you.
But how could I have saved you of your sickness?
When everyone seems to turn away!
There is nothing I have wanted more.
Now that I'm finally free,
My shackles have been shed to the ground.
Now that I'm finally free,
I can jump out the window,
And dance beside the clouds-
As birds take their wings in my hands.
Don't ever look behind you;
You're finally free and I support your decision.
Left in the dust for many years,
Scattered wounds taking on your body.
Promise me you will be okay-
Promise me you will be good-
Promise me you will fly high.
Is flying from their pain.