They will remember for a year,
They will talk for a month,
They will mourn for a week,
And they will weep for a day.
You’ll become a name
To be taken with a sigh
Till their minds are shattered
By another tragedy.
They might hold a wake,
They might create a memorial,
They might build a sepulchre,
They might even sing an ode to your sorrow.
Yet, in the end,
It does matter.
The life you’ve lived, the memories you’ve created, the love you’ve given and the love you’ve received.
You’re more than the sum of your parts. You’re someone’s hope, someone’s inspiration, someone’s support, someone’s desire, someone’s family, someone’s entire life.
So when you feel you’re falling,
When the future seems too bleak,
When you feel like giving up,
Take a long hard peek,
At the pages of your life,
At the imprints left by people,
At the threads interconnected,
At the lives interwoven.
Then pull upon the spirit of human resilience,
And show your demons
That they can’t get you down
Because you’re not alone in this battle,
You’ve got an army by your side.
Then rise,
Rise again,
From dust and dirt
Because you’ve undergone a trial by fire
And proven to be more than just
A whisp of breath and a skeleton of bones.
The world is still reeling in the aftermath of Chester Bennington’s suicide. I, for one, am yet to come to terms with the fact that Robin Williams, the quintessential joker, suffered a a similar end after battling depression. There are thousands of other souls who have given up or are in the process of losing their hold on life. Every day is a struggle, each moment, an insurmountable challenge. I wish I could do more to help them. I wish there was an instant cure, a remedy that could take away all their ailments. There isn’t. But what we, each one of us, can do is spread the word on the importance of mental health. Break the taboo surrounding mental illnesses. Uplift these tribulations to the same level of concern that our physical well-being is regarded with. Because, for lack of a better comparison, mental illness is akin to cancer, a tumour that gnaws at us from within. A parasite that lives within us and thrives on us. And in the end, it eats us whole. An early diagnosis and apt treatment, however, is still our best and safest bet. So reach out, recognise mental ailments, get their victims/patients the help they deserve. Do not undermine their pain, alleviate it. Do not make them pariahs, their own minds do that enough. Every step, be it counselling, therapy, or medication, helps. So let’s vow to open our eyes and gently, but surely, in the words of another troubled soul, heal the world. I am urging everyone because more often than not the victims of mental illnesses will be unable to identify their symptoms, but the people around them can very easily notice red flags. So let’s all do our bit and help our fellowmen.
To read more on the importance of mental health awareness and a poetic description of some illnesses and how they affect victims, click here.
I would also like to thank Christine Ray, who has a wonderfully inspiring blog – http://www.braveandrecklessblog.com – for the title and last line of this poem. “Breath and Bone” was a writing prompt challenge hosted on her blog and although I’m too late to submit an entry for it, I do wish to thank her for coming up with words than can be interpreted in a myriad ways and depict the struggles faced by us.
I really love this! Very inspiring and I just love the way you write 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, you’re very kind! I just hope it can reach some troubled souls and help them 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is way too good. Amazing.💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much! ❤️
LikeLike
Honestly Varnika, this is one of your best writings, totally in tune with the terrible feelings of those facing the black hole, and I’m personally experiencing the pain of losing a friend close to me, through suicide, unbelievably gut wrenching……
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sir. I sincerely hope I was able to do some justice to their plight. I am so sorry for your loss. You have my deepest condolences. I cannot even begin to imagine what you must be going through how helpless and angered you must be feeling. I have seen people feel helpless and angry at themselves for not having done more for their loved one. Please feel free to drop me a text on Facebook if you feel the need to talk to someone who cares and is listening. If only to just cherish and relive memories of your friend. I would love to know about the moments he/she truly lived in. Take care please!
LikeLike
Thankyou sincerely for your kind support, very much appreciated ♡
LikeLiked by 1 person
[ Smiles ] Superbly written!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[ Smiles ] You are welcome, Varnika!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully expressed !!
Depression is damn real and powerful. People just don’t give up you will find happiness. Thanks for sharing this . ✌ peace
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
I sincerely hope words can make a big enough impact to actually help people and spread awareness. Thank you for appreciating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful post!
The poem is inspiring and touching 😊
Also, thank you for spreading awareness about the mental illnesses. Those suffering should be able to receive a proper care and understanding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
I just hope we all work towards the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and be able to get people the requisite help in time.
LikeLiked by 1 person