Obehi Aigiomawu – “The Thief”
Depression,
is a thief.
And every day, I am robbed;
Not of money or gold,
But of peace.
In response, I send in
Two pills (they were once three)
They go in armed to the teeth.
I tell them of what they need to bring;
My abducted hobbies and interests,
A sense of happiness,
A healthy eyesight to see hope with,
And the normal beating of my heart
That anxiety had snatched off my hands.
My therapist who prescribed them,
Told me they’d succeed,
I must give them nothing less than two weeks.
Each appointment,
Sees me spilling secrets.
A problem shared, is a problem half solved;
The other half, we live with.
I talk, I cry, I talk.
I wonder about what the doctor is scribbling.
He asks more questions and I oblige.
If this body cannot sleep,
How can my soul dream?
Two weeks go by,
And I almost doubt the pills succeeding.
There’s been fighting and negotiating,
But they don’t come back with what has been taken.
Instead of happiness and peace,
They come back with numbness,
They come back with sleep.
These two combined,
Are a shadow of peace.
Or the pale portrait that remains,
Should a pencil drawing of it be erased?
I grab at their offerings,
Gratefully.
Something, is better than nothing.
I tell them they’re hired,
They nod, they don’t seem surprised.
Sequels to my meal every night.
“But,
What are pills without hymns,
What are doctor’s orders, without psalms?”.
My mother gently places a Bible in my hands.
These days, I am my own detective.
I have sources, I have leads.
I exercise, when I least feel like.
I take advice
From those who’ve never and might never walk in my shoes,
Having a different shoe size.
Minds accustomed to a different version of sad.
I breathe in, breathe out.
I wait for Time.
Today,
I tell myself.
That my peace was never stolen,
I just haven’t figured out yet,
Where I kept it.
Photo by Nicolas D. on Unsplash
13 Comments
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Absolute genius. Captivating writing that brings life to an almost dying situation. Been there, still.there….but this is hope!
This has so much depth and it will be life changing if people actually come to terms with and support people with emotional and mental distress
Fantastic Piece! Indeed drugs are useful to help find some strength to muster the needed courage to tap into higher and infinite sources of strength and peace that the scriptures so easily provide. Hope is always the last to die, and even depression cannot kill hope! A new and brighter day is possible!
I truly talented young lady! You have captured the feelings that each person at one time or the other have experienced. The word picture can’t seem to leave my head, you have left a lasting impression on me.
Deep and sad to know this. May God heal us all
Well, you’ve said it all! A beautiful poem to say the least. Depression is a silent, slow but sure killer. It should be treated as a mental and psychological issue By society, and with a lot of attention as it is indeed a silent thief of lives.
EPIC..
I genuinely loved reading this🥺
This is so so good!👏🏾
This is brilliant!
Obehi Aigiomawu is the one writer that has made me fall in love with poetry, her write-ups get me every time. She’s exceptional.
Touching and hopeful. Nice poem.
Beautiful!
Wow! This is so good. So deep, yet so simply written. I’m always amazed at Obehi’s poems, they have the depth of a 45 year old who has been there and seen it all, yet written in very simple language. Thanks for sharing this poem Obehi, and for putting into words something that so many people are ashamed to acknowledge that they’re battling with.
I am always in awe of you and how you put huge emotions into simple words,absolutely brilliant