Psych Ward by auntietk
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Psych Ward
No longer capable
Of living in the world
They move you
To adult family care
Things get better
Then worse
As the doctors
Frantically adjust your meds
This way and that
Looking for balance
Hallucinations start in earnest
You yell
Call the police
Certain that there are people
In the attic
In the basement
Being tortured
You can hear them
Screaming in the night
A physical complication
Increases the hallucinations
They cannot keep you quiet
Cannot calm you down
You call the police
Three times in one week
Wake up other people in the house
In the middle of the night
To warn them
Of the danger
Your accusations
Start a full-scale
Investigation
They have to check
Your report of abuse
Even though
You live in a rambler
You can't stay there
So they move you again
This time to a medical facility
Where they can
Deal with your
Drug-troubled mind
Psych ward
They say it will be just
A couple of weeks
Their goal
Is to keep you quiet
You need a sign
For the back of your chair
"Caution:
Brilliant,
Creative,
Hallucinatory
Woman.
Handle With Care"
I can only imagine
The scene on the floor
The day you
Organized the patients
Lined them up
At the window
To go down the slide
You were sure
Was an emergency exit
To freedom
I'm sure
Everyone was glad that day
For the foresight and planning
That doesn't allow
Windows to open
On the psych ward
The tale continues
The ending is unknown
If this were fiction
I could tie it up
Create resolution
But this is your life
And all I can do
Is speak for you
As the story unfolds
..........
My friend Patricia continues to deteriorate with Parkinson's. She responds to humor, knows who I am, asks to hear stories about my life ... but her own stories revolve around things that have happened only in her mind. Do not confuse this with dementia or alzheimer's ... it's a whole different ballgame.
..........
Cover page created in ArtRage and Photoshop
Font is Brass Monkey
..........
Reminder!
You only have until Monday night to submit your challenge piece to the Writer's Challenge / Contest, Alone in the Dark Voting starts on the 17th and will close on March 20th at noon!
Comments (22)
I had no idea that Parkinsons could take this course. Astonishing information, and your work gives a clear insight to the rest of us. Thankyou!
Moving words... I'm sorry for your friend!
I grieve for your friend's loss! great and moving words
I echo Andrea, great work indeed Tara luv Hug for your friend.
Oh Tara this is such a powerful and yet poignant piece of work. I read every word and read a few verses again to grasp the full impact. left me staring into the screen not knowing what else to say !
Excellent shot, fantastic colors and details
So well done. At a complete loss for words after my first reading, I went for a visit back in your gallery and read for the first time "Deterioration" and "Side Effects". These pieces help put "Psych Ward" into better perspective for me. Having seen the masking, the mumbled, soft speech and general deterioration of Mohammed Ali, the tremors and speech problems of Michael J. Fox, the tremors that came on my grandfather in his later years all caused by this wicked disease, I am not surprised by what you describe here. There must be a great feeling of helplessness on the part of all those close to a victim of PD. Once again, in a few lines and a few words you've shown a powerful light on a subject almost unknown to most of us. Somewhere deep down Patricia knows you to be a friend...one of the few solid points of contact she still has in her life. Thanks for telling us what this is like. Wow.
I'm glad you are there for your friend. This is a very moving piece and my heart goes out to both of you.
So powerful, and so painful, Tara. Beautiful writing.
This is such a sad story told by a friend, loving friend who can only sympathize but too is powerless against nature. Beautifully written! Thank you for sharing.
This is a very sad and touching poem, Tara. I didnt know Parkinson could be like that.
This touches me so deeply. It's not the Parkinson's that causes all this insanity; it's the drugs given to counteract the symptoms. I feel I know Patricia in so many ways, because you've told me about her. I also know someone who lives with it in early days; but I'll never know what it's truly like for either of them. Powerful, poignant, beautiful words, Tara.
yes, very powerful, and I too didn't know Parkinson's had this effect, or (as Marilyn says) the drugs have this effect. And no, it's not alzheimers...With illnesses similar to this, part of the agony seems to be that the sufferer knows they're stricken with these terrifying visions but at the same time they can't come out from inside them; and the dual state, at least in the earlier stages, can be very painful. (I've seen something similar with other ailments; perhaps it applies to Parkinson's as well.) I'm so sorry for your friend. You've written trenchantly and directly and it's a very moving piece and a tribute to what she goes through every day...
An informed piece, written from the heart and I'm sure you brighten Patricia's day whenever you talk to her or see her. I feel deeply for your friend Tara. Very moving prose.
An extraordinary poem!
wonderful heartfelt words, Tara May warm hug and love, Linda Kaye
so sorry to hear of this state. wonderful writeing
I agree with barbdennis :)
Very informative. Thank you for sharing your friend's story. I know what it's like to work with patients in "lock down" units. My heart breaks when I encounter patients in the prime of their lives with these devastating illnesses. My best to your friend.
wow fabulous writing ... very sad too
Very moving Tara and so sorry for your friend...
great poem!