A few years ago I had what I would possibly call a mental breakdown. It was right in the middle of the pandemic. I thought I was fine but somehow started hearing lots of music in the night – not a bad thing since they were all my favourites – which I could live with. But the voices were the things that really got to me.
Anyway, the good thing about it was that I was connected with a writing group, met plenty of like people and began writing poetry.
Here is the first one that I wrote at that time.


Pitch

The darkness was behind her hiding in the shade
Waiting and watching
Ready to envelope her with its black and deep thoughts
She could see it in the corner of her eye
She swore it winked with calm patience
She couldn’t blink for fear it would consume her
attacking her very secret thoughts and whispers
Each pearl of inspiration would be dissolved in gloom
Every notion of peace and redemptive satisfaction
would be usurped
ever owned by another
The bottomless tomb that threatened to hold her
shed no light bejewelled warmth
nor ring of laughter that tinkled in the sun.
It sank, snaking further into the abyss
with wisps like tendrils teasing a feathery touch
an unspoken promise
No words just silence
a soulless fog
As she waited and she watched
for the darkness behind her hiding in the shade