Our coping, Substitutions

L. B. Mek


Notice of absence from L. B. Mek
'fare ye well' kind friends


 

broken family homes

replaced with

pixel scene dramatics

 

fantastical innocent childhoods

warped by

relativity’s harsh experiences

 

wishes dreamt into aspirations

surrendered, to

bitterness of anticipated failures,

 

hope rooted ambition

forgotten

within weary submission

 

doubt’s stuttering verse

ageing

passion’s youthful verve

 

time lost regretting, floundering

our

potential: for new beginning

 

 

© L. B. Mek

February 2021

  • Author: L. B. Mek (Offline Offline)
  • Published: May 14th, 2021 03:46
  • Comment from author about the poem: Oft, we've wrongly assumed, there is strength in baring our mental issues, alone finding various coping substitutions, to help us: keep going without ever tackling the root cause of our suffering it's time we change that flawed way of thinking! 1 in 4 of us suffer from mental issues... "Now, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help." https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/nhs-voluntary-charity-services/charity-and-voluntary-services/get-help-from-mental-health-helplines/ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/ https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 75
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Comments7

  • dusk arising

    There came a sudden outburst from the media 'look after your mental health during lockdown/shielding'. I began to wonder if I was going doo-dally for i had begun to sing bizarre lyrics to my ad-lib jazz scat singing around the house. So it took advantage of the opportunity to speak with the mental health services online. Well, over the next few weeks I was enrolled into the most boring and fruitless set of phone conversations I think I have ever endured. After a while i realised that the chatter was probably as keen to be shot of me as I was him. After missing one of his phone calls i received a voicemail stating that i had been rejected by the system ("computer says no") for missing that call.
    I was so pleased. now knowing that i was not on the worry list and would not have men in white coats knocking my door.
    Frankly though, I am a bit of a screwball nutter but unlikely to be much of a pest or drain on public services so long as MPS allows me to post my gibberish rants, cunningly disguised as poetry, every so often.

    Thank goodness the services you outline are there for the needy.

    • L. B. Mek

      'for I had begun to sing bizarre lyrics to my ad-lib jazz scat singing around the house.'
      (truthfully, didn't we all?)
      as for your seemingly fruitless experience with counselling
      sadly, like most things
      'Returns equate to 'Quality' of shrewd: Investment...'
      all helplines, are like road signs, there to guide
      if you utilise them properly, however
      if your local bartender (or whatever,
      seems to have an empathetic smile
      that's not commercially, plastered
      on too-keen a face, then why not borrow their ears
      or your neighbour
      or that person you have the number of from a few years ago
      who seemed, kinda nice
      there is no right or wrong, as long as you understand
      all friends, helplines, counsellor's, helpers of any genre
      exist - mainly, to offer you a glimpse
      of what Self-Healing You're Capable of,
      its just: we get lost sometimes even on our way back home
      get distracted maybe, and then those roadsides: come in handy...
      and I for one, have read enough of your wise words, to know
      you've probably helped much more than you've ever harmed,
      'so just continue, to do you brother and let fate, simply
      handle the rest...'
      'Que serĂ¡, serĂ¡' / 'C'est la vie'
      'if you'll pardon my uncouth, French of acceptance
      for those aspects of life: we must humbly acknowledge
      that we just, can't change' lol

      • dusk arising

        'C'est la vie' - that's life indeed. Humbly accepting that others experience can be poles apart from our own in a given set of circumstance.

      • Jerry Reynolds

        Well said, L.B.

        • L. B. Mek

          thank you Jerry, appreciate the endorsement
          of what I believe to be an important message

        • Fay Slimm.

          How true these reminders to seek help when negative moods rule our minds -- - food for thought in each of your stanzas my friend.

          • L. B. Mek

            thank you dear Fay,
            as the empathetic poet you are, it doesn't surprise me
            you would lend some of your valuable time, to endorse
            the message I was hoping to convey in this write

          • Goldfinch60

            Good words Mek, there are many out there who do not realise that they are suffering in some way and do not know it within themselves.

            Andy

            • L. B. Mek

              so very true Andy..
              we seldom recognise our own suffering
              until its reflected in the actions, that hurt
              those we care about the most: sadly...

            • Neville

              Having spent my entire working life as a Clinical Specialist within the fascinatingly diverse field of mental health (psychiatry) and also consistently trying to engineer a more positive and accepting attitude toward mental ill health throughout this time .. and whilst also trying to chip away at the many myths, general insensitivity and grossly exaggerated tales of risk associated with mental ill health ... I could not agree more fully than I do with much of your authors note ... which I might add, is music to these old ears ... and your post of yesterday, pure poetry .............. Thank you .........................
              ........................ Neville

              • L. B. Mek

                instead, my good friend - let me: Thank you!
                for services that you've offered, that go way past
                any value equated to 'billable hours', namely
                that integral quality of selflessness and empathetic intelligence
                few if any, have enough-of to share
                let alone, Fuel: that most Humanist' of professions - Healing...
                (though like all-things, there are goodun's and phony's
                but I have a feeling those you managed to help, won the lottery
                whether they realised it or not)

              • PrEm Ji

                War goes on everywhere... and the worst is happening within human minds... Will there be any peace?

                • L. B. Mek

                  'Relativity' is that key word, we forget - far, too quickly, dear poet...
                  to a warzone Peace is, numbness
                  to a civilised life, numbness is an indicator of Turmoil...
                  but to all, we can only begin to Quest for: Peace
                  when we acknowledge our own Fingerprints
                  in that Turmoil, we choose to Harbour...

                • sorenbarrett

                  Beyond anything else this poem carries a very important message. You are so right that our prejudice against mental issues holds us back. It is the fear of our lack of understanding that keeps up this barrier. I have worked with people with such problems for the past 35 years and I believe like most other things everyone has such problems to a greater o. r lesser degree. When we look at others we need to look in a mirror first, but not with pride but true desire to understand.

                  • L. B. Mek

                    so, so true wise Poet
                    we often think the one with the issues
                    needs all the bravery in the conversation
                    but the one trying to understand, needs
                    to go out on the limb as well, listen as well
                    as hear, trust and walk with patience
                    because we can't see the wounds
                    only the flinches and bloodshot eyes...
                    (yeah
                    this is definitely one of my more
                    meaningful scribbles, kind friend)
                    thank you!



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