mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
does the universe even care?
summer love that has to end
saying goodbye in September
broken hearts and stolen dreams
lovers mourn in muted screams
wishing they would not remember
autumn in its amber shades
masking truths too hard to bear
does the universe even care?
school becomes a new distraction
mothers scrimping for more pennies
children’s shoes will not endure
humbled with their meagre meal
peanut butter spread too thin
mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
does the universe even care?
October ends in farce and fury
poverty clothed in Halloween
witches taunting mockingly
nary a princess or a queen
dreading winter, parents worry
mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
does the universe even care?
December heaves a downy blanket
void of presents and empty cupboards
January weighs a thousand woes
hungry bellies and frozen toes
housing they cannot afford
mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
does the universe even care?
social services cannot keep up
greedy leaders just turn away
their pockets lined with children's dreams
parents working night and day
politics drowning all their screams
mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
does the universe even care?
blindly seeking for a break
depression hovers constantly
winter nearing to an end
melancholy lurking silently
hiding spring’s utopia
mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
does the universe even care?
bound in darkness and despair
breaking through with fiery rage
some may find an ounce to share
fill them with ample courage
reaching out to one who cares
mid-season blues
like summer draughts that bring despair
someone out there really cares!
© Cheryl-Lynn ‘19-01-23
http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ Adults 1-833-456-4566
For residents in Quebec 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
Kids Help Phone – Jeunesse Jécoute - Youths and young adult
www.kidshelpphone.ca www.jeunessejecoute.ca 1 800 668 6868
USA https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 1-800-273-8255
Tag Archives: despair
snow, another four-letter word (Daily Moments January 23. 2019 Haibun )
It is amazing how much literature there is on the lack of sunlight and darkness affects moods and yet there does not seem to be as much on seeing ONLY WHITE F&$&ing snow. The skies are grey today and yet the brightness of the snow still makes her eyes squint and adds to the jackhammer in her head. It is said that January 21st is the most depressing day of the year. How interesting that it may be the most depressing but that does not mean that the following day it has disappeared. No siree, it lags on and on and on and lurks into February and depression infecting each day forward.
Today, she squints as she looks out the window, debating if she should go out to do some errands which would entail, getting dressed (winterizing with coat, boots, scarf, ski mask, snow pants, gloves or mitts and cleats) to the bus stop, waiting in the wind, avoiding cars splashing the slush on sidewalks and repeating the same thing on her return. It is like shampooing one’s hair: shampoo, rinse, repeat.
Fortunately, today it is a balmy –5C so she can lose the snow pants, ski mask and mitts. What a joy! It is snowing today and she stands at the corner feeling her cheeks blush with each kiss.
“Crunch, Crunch” her boots moan as she approaches destination. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, she feels a shift in her mood and knows that this brief but effective exercise has fired neurotransmitters that are lifting her spirits. She sighs thinking of those who suffer so much especially this time of year and the risks that may entail…
mid-season blues
like summer draughts bring despair
in the dead of winter
blindly seeking respite
from the wrath of depression
treading warily
on grief’s temptation
veering such demise
bundling up with courage
some may make that phone call
hearing in that voice
caring and supportive
may give life a chance
© Tournesol ‘19-01-23
a moment of grace ( haibun ) – Daily Moments Sept 17/17
Parminder struggled thinking of her upcoming battle against the man who had assaulted her. He was well known and a successful professional.. Parminder was a mere insect caught in the web of this vicious spider. He was there to stomp on her to rid society of this nuisance.
She wept on the phone as she spilled her sadness and anger to her friend. “I am only female! I am a just an immigrant! I am trash that society cannot even look at; I disgust them.”
“Her friend listens.
“How can anyone amount to anything when she has been groomed in garbage since she was born?” She cries for the child who was abused since she was young.
Her friend waits until there is a pause, then responds.
“What about the flower that starts to grow from the bottom of a pond in the muck and rises above the muddy waters, blossoms into a magnificent lotus? Did it not come from sludge? What about the beta fighter who thrives in mud puddles? Is it not admired in Western worlds for its beauty and endurance? The world does not always know where beautiful and resilient people come from.”
There is nothing more precious when two people sharing a moment of grace simultaneously.
butterfly flutters
fanning its wings on her hand,
my cheek tickles
©Tournesol’17/09/17
222 words
This is longer than the required 150 words at Heeding Haiku for Chèvrefeuille but it is a true story about despair and hope. Also since it totaled 222 words and my mother’s numbers were 2 and she was born June 22nd, I knew I just had to share it.
Daily Moments September 17 2017 A moment of grace Haibun
the other side of gloom (haibun)
Kim had moved to the big city seeking a better life; major changes are difficult especially in the beginning. She was well aware of that. She felt so isolated being away from family and friends. She was not accustomed to the standoffish air of some city folks making her transition even more challenging.
Up at dawn every morning on her way to work, she would drive by the lake greeted by the sun slowly rising over the lake. Each morning she felt blessed and encouraged, sensing the Great Spirit must be smiling at her.
new dawn beckons
blinding all despair
promises of hope
©Tournesol’17/09/14
Written for Heeding Haiku for Chevrefeuille at MindLoveMiserysMenagerie
103 words
habits of the times (solo no renga)
echoes linger
mocking in the shadows
mid barren trees
tendencies of souls at risk
symbolic of this season
hopelessness
leaving far too many
unhinged
©Tournesol’16
Three Word Wednesday: symbolic tendency unhinged
Daily Moments October 21, 2016 habits of the times Solo No Renga
The Stigma of her despair
Stigma deprives so many suffering youths and adults from getting proper treatment. There is treatment and there IS recovery.
deadlygothicdesigns.webs.com
The stigma of her despair
She struggled every day at school
dragging her feet there anyway
life at home was not so cool
she rarely talked to anyone
at school they called her emo
she always dressed the same
black shirt, black jeans without a logo
a long black trench coat too
all clothes she got at Sally Ann
she died her hair jet black
painted her nails and lips
black with hints of maroon red
to match colour of blood,
it looked like her uniform
a suit of raw despair
because no one did care.
she tried to ask for help
saying she felt so sad
whenever she couldn’t stand
the pain, she chose to hurt herself
then students saw her marks
and bullied her some more
the teacher called her parents
so she could seek some help
but they screamed with such fury
for shaming the family.
And…
View original post 124 more words
Don’t give up
If it were a child she carried for 40 weeks
more or less,
she would find a way, she seeks
courage to fight moments of despair
patience to meet times of frustration
forgiveness to any bouts of commotion
knows a child does not comprehend,
a child expects unconditional love
a child deserves absolute compassion and regard
and then shall she take to this to mean
that Life as she sees it, feels it,
smelling vomit, tasting sweetness, serene
Life as it hurts, cuts bit by bit
Life with its multiple personality
Life with its joys and glee
Life with its mundane and bizarre
is all she will get here, near and far
only once in this time around…
and so she will hold it with kindness
and unconditional love and fondness
as if it were her baby she carried
for 40 weeks, more or less
and she shall find solace that she is,
Life is, simply…
meant to be…
When Life seems too difficult to bear, don’t despair
Treat it as your child…unconditional and loving care.
© Cheryl-Lynn, 2014/04/05
Written for FWF
Holy C Melan
Her nickname is Melan,
she is of sly, slithering species
tantalizing in her distinct bouquet
mesmerizing in her discrete array
of victims of her choosing
dripping bliss as she`s oozing
her prisoners of despair
suffer anguish in her care.
Hallowed in her divine
prowess she will define
the true painful meaning
finds her prey ever demeaning
suffering the wrought of her ability
winning casualties of her torment
sinking teeth of Ms. Melan C. Holy
whilst innocent souls lament.
© Cheryl-Lynn 2014/04/05 All Rights Reserved
Too often the powers of depression or long dreaded visits of melancholy can bring a person down. Not everyone has to be diagnosed with clinical, situational or other forms of depression to relate to these feelings of despair and I thought this poem describes the tormenting visits of this Melan C Holy baby.
Originally submitted at Stigmahurtseveryone
Never give up (haiku)
Part of a puzzle
one big piece that does not fit
That just might be me
Darkness colours grey
oceans swallow fowl beliefs
sea of lost riddles.
despair clouds the mind
shift in attitude restores.
Equilibrium.
By no means give up
tomorrow’s another day
faith, hope… reliance
© Cheryl-Lynn, 2014/02/24
There is hope
Despair became her friend
sadness wrapped her like a blanket
Drinking, harming her new trend;
death seemed like her only target,
woke up mornings and saw grey
looked outside and just saw clouds
Praying, hoping was her way
now the pain just screamed too loud.
had no clue that there was hope
there are people who assist
teaching different ways to cope
seeing lifelines on a list
she decides, give life a try
called a youth line late one night
realized she needn’t die
Gave life a chance, saw the light.
Sure am glad she called that night.
Don’t give up when times are bleak
Talk to someone soon this week;
if you’re scared, check a helpline
they may become your true lifeline!
They’re always open, day and night
They never close…so call, alright?
*
Check for further resources at Stop the Stigma
*
© Cheryl-Lynn, January 18, 2014
&
On January 28, let’s talk.
Bell will donate 5¢ more to mental health initiatives for every:
Text message sent*
Mobile and long distance call made*
Tweet using #BellLetsTalk
Facebook share of our Bell Let’s Talk image
*By a Bell or Bell Aliant customer only
Don’t forget, January 28th, to share those Tweets and Facebook shares will donate 5 cents…so share, share, share and so folks talk about mental health to remove the stigma so more people, youths and adults will get help.
