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Managing My Sorrow

Please don’t tell me your sad tale of woe When I am deeply hurting inside, Trying my best to not let anyone know I am struggling to maintain my pride. Courageously, I am following my guide Keeping a smile on my face as I go, Most of my days are a very difficult ride Please don’t tell me your sad tale of woe. I do want to be so sympathetic, to glow, And I would never be snarky or chide But it is difficult for my empathy to show When I am hurting deeply down inside. My depression runs deep, it’s hard to hide Many days, in anguish, my tears overflow While I am struggling to keep up my stride Trying my best to not let anyone know. So, I simply cannot handle another shadow Another’s distressing story I cannot abide While doing my best to go with the flow, I am struggling to maintain my pride. I can endure going in an out like the tide With help I am managing my sorrow, I have many good helpers by my side If you have bad news today or tomorrow, Please don’t tell me Written June 9, 2022 [Although I do not suffer from depression, I have counseled with many folks who do.]

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Regina Mcintosh

Date: 6/11/2022 7:01:00 AM

Wonderful writing. I love this. God bless you always, Love, Gina

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/11/2022 7:20:00 AM

Thanks so much, Gina, for your kind words in response to my poem on depression. Blessings on you, too.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 6/9/2022 9:05:00 PM

Wonderfully done, and this is the most difficult type of poem I have ever attempted to write, so BRAVO to you!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/9/2022 9:21:00 PM

Thanks, Caren. I really enjoy working with this form, but I love the more complicated poetry forms. They are something like word games for me.

Marco Chies

Date: 6/9/2022 4:16:00 PM

What beautiful and profound poetry, my friend.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/9/2022 7:06:00 PM

Thanks so much, Marco. I was writing on behalf of thousands of people who struggle every day with depression and directed toward those who have distorted understandings of mental illness issues.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 6/9/2022 3:47:00 PM

Thats the thing with some folks you never really know what's going on inside We all have lows in our lives sometimes but others reach rock bottom with no tell tale signs and often they end up taking their own lives. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/9/2022 7:07:00 PM

Unfortunately, Tom, that is often the case. There is so much misunderstanding and lack of education about mental health issues. Certainly in the U.S. I don't know about other countries, but I'm sure mental illness is not confined to any one country.

Jeff Kyser

Date: 6/9/2022 1:36:00 PM

Well done, Milt.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/9/2022 1:41:00 PM

Thanks, Jeff. It took a long time for me to make the connection that people who are suffering with chronic depression, which some folks think is all in the head, are really physically hurting. Sometimes they hurt so badly they simply cannot take it any longer...and so.....