Mental Illness

No one understands you, not even you yourself. Trapped in a cage that only you can see The combination lock rusted shut since You gambled away the secret numbers for some fairy dust . . . and a handful of beans. I can't hate you for it, it is your cancer You didn't ask for it, never wanted it, but it's yours, and so it is mine. You can't escape those invisible bars and I can't avoid them! I bump into them at every turn, until I am exhausted, bruised and defeated. Sometimes you tell me that you are getting better. You know this because you have more room to move within the boundaries of your cage. At those times I am sad, because you cannot see the truth. You have more room because you are shrinking -- the cage is as confiningly sturdy as ever. I hate what this disease has done to you. Even more, I hate what your enablers have allowed you to believe. It is a disease, and until you recognize that and admit it, We are all running on the same destinationless hamster wheel. This is not a game of Normalopoly, Driving your silver car in hopes of avoiding going to therapy without passing Go. This is real life and those around you, like me, are tiring of this prison. You say it might be better if you were dead, but we are the ones who long for a finish line, at any cost. You are sick, but we all suffer the consequences of your disease. None of us can live until you choose to show your cage to those who can help. You claim you hate your disease and its shackles, But we are in the straight jackets wishing for release -- even death. I love you. I hate your disease. I love seeing the real you, but that is fading away. I long for you to have a quality life, one without that cursed cage of fear But until you open the door, neither of us will be free. Written 2/24/2016 Any Poem You Ever Wrote NOT For A Contest - Poetry Contest *This was written solely from my frustrartion. A few days later a contest it fit popped up. I entered it. The contest was never judged and I believe never will be so I feel us ticked entering this contest.