L Milton Hankins Poet Rondeau Redouble

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.]

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Regina Mcintosh June 11, 2022 at 7:01 AM Wonderful writing. I love this. God bless you always, Love, Gina L Milton Hankins June 11, 2022 at 7:20 AM Thanks so much, Gina, for your kind words in response to my poem on depression. Blessings on you, too.

Caren Krutsinger June 9, 2022 at 9:05 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 June 9, 2022 at 9:21 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 June 9, 2022 at 4:16 PM What beautiful and profound poetry, my friend. L Milton Hankins June 9, 2022 at 7:06 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 June 9, 2022 at 3:47 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 June 9, 2022 at 7:07 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 June 9, 2022 at 1:36 PM Well done, Milt. L Milton Hankins June 9, 2022 at 1:41 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.....