Oh Tara - this poem is speaking to my heart! I have been there, done that! I still have times (lately fairly frequently but with good reason) that the black blanket of depression can enfold me for short periods of time and without prior warning. Very, very well written my friend! You hit the nail spot on! (I know you're not depressed or else we wouldn't have giggled so much on the phone last night!!! huge smile)

I suffer from depression and this poem is very true. (I've got mine under control, thank you) Excellent portrayal!

It is a beautiful and true poem and I have been there, done that, as Carin also said. But I am glad you are ok, my friend :-)) I am ok too, but no creativity is with me these weeks. I get nothing done. Thirth week actually. I have stacks of empty canvases, just waiting. Lots of Watercolor paper, Lots of drawing boards, but no creativity.

Your poem is so very true...hits home...you have done amazing on it.

Nice words that touch the heart, Tara! Luckily I'm not depressed, but I know people who are... and they suffer a lot!

Stupendous! Like you, I know quite a few who suffer.

Hmm, I say thanks to photography and RR that I am doing better than the chords struck in my being by your words. Thanks for sharing, Tara. Have a great weekend! Clive

Very well written. I used to have no personal experience with the subject...until 2005. Great stress (workwise) for 7-8 months straight during that year got to me. I experienced absolutely everything you've written above! The work mess straightened out and poof...life has been fine since...even through the death of my spouse, the death of my father, and major surgery. I guess different things trigger depression in different people. If you've never been here yourself...your powers of observation are right on!

It is a very sad poem. In a single heartbeat I lost my soulmate, husband, lover, best friend, business and creative partner of 30 years. I am in the 4th stage of grief - depression and despair, though I continue to be creative and embrace certain aspects of life. Someday, if a miracle happens, I will reach the 5th stage of grief ... which is acceptance. CC

You have written this so well and it has such a familiar ring to it. There does seem to be a lot of depressed people around or is it that they have just forgotten how to have fun and smile.

How eloquently this ineffable pain is expressed, Tara. I can empathise, and I thank you so much for the beacon of hope you added with the link. I do hope that those who need it will find the energy to click the link and to benefit from it!

I don't even know what to say about this--it's so huge. I know people who live this way, who don't even know why. You paint the very gray world they live it. Powerful, poignant and terribly sad.

WOW is all I can say wonderful work, Tara May warm hug and love, Linda Kaye

I think you might be on to something with the water thing, seriously. I don't think it's necessarily what's in the water, but maybe what's been taken out. Great work I think you hit it on the head.

Excellent write! I'm glad your ok! My husband suffers from that and it is terribly hard to have to deal with...I will say he has been doing much better this last week with new inspiration and meds.

This is very beautiful and true i have a sister that is going through this after the loss of her husband and some days she just exist as a zombie she will not seek help i can't seem to help her she wants no one around her and i am really scared of what she is going to do next so scared that if she does not answer the phone i am running over there constantly and it is catching up with me also.We both lost our parents last year a month apart so this has added to it i am just beyond trying anymore but i guess i am just more strong headed and i never give up on anything till i get it right so i pray i can help her somehow and thanks for this it is very very heartfelt.

Oh Tara this is a great piece of work and it so happens today I'm going to meet with a Women's Depression group.

Times are hard for many and there seems to be no clear way forward. Your poem really speaks to me. I've had loses in my life and most recently worked at a job under horrible conditions. Then the worst thing that could happen happened and I was laid off. Once I stopped working, the burdens were lifted and I'm better than ever. As I told someone on this site, you have to take that monster you've got in your drawer, look it straight in the face and tell it to piss off. I hope your friends are feeling better soon.

I'm only commenting on a piece here & there right now, so it could look strange to pick this one out of all your recent posts, lol, but it makes sense. Because your writing has such subtle breath & nuance, flowing the way thought & feeling does, that it's natural for me to pick it. I just wanted to come here and say what a pleasure it is to read your writing. You caught depression so well. It's a "relatable" form of depression, one which we may all know, but the state you portray isn't far from the deep plunge that some eventually take; so you caught the slippery slope well too. And (again) your lineation is just right, your use of single-word lines, your easeful manner, all of it; and you have this way of posing a problem near the end & then ending with a characteristic surprise—sometimes uplifting, sometimes light, sometimes painful, sometimes resigned or ironic: It's present here again, with total ease & truthfulness. I keep thinking I'm gonna respond to your writing with writing, but I never do, do I? Well, it's a really well-written piece, and you caught the sigh & disconnection of it so well, I'll let your writing speak for itself. Another fine piece of writing from you; they're all so nuanced & insightful and yet they feel as if you wrote them in a moment and just flew them in the air...amazing how you do that! Whoosh...

Yes ... and it's a blessing when the one suffering has that one special friend he can confide in and open up to wholeheartedly .. every single day, and every single night, (hours on end ) ... no matter the time difference; and knowing he has someone he can trust with his life and who loves him unconditionally in return. This is powerful medicine. :)

Beautiful poem, awesome work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!