Michael Ramel Poet Prose

Notes About The Poem

This prose was a submission for my Poetry Course at UW-Madison (Independant Study) 1996 (revised 2025). The title is a play on the word hypochondriac: an addict who imagines a sickness. A psychochondriac is an addict who hijacks their own thoughts. Creating drama, assuming a universal negative and creating a scenario worse than what it is. From the song "Hold On" by Kansas "Hold on, there's something around the corner."

Psycho-Chondri-Addict

As the night drags the shadows from the day
It's time for me to toss and turn into dreamland
It's hazy here
It's snowing
And I'm up on a ledge
The river below says "If you're going to jump in,
       it's sink or swim."
A dove flies by and circles and lands on my shoulder
      flutters its wings and says
"Do you know what today is?"
"No" I reply
"It's Christmas Eve, Shhh! Listen! 
Can you hear the bells pealing,
The violin cries
The melancholy saxophone, and
The carolers singing?" 
Then without a sound, a mime dances up to me
Shoe's away the bird and without a word
      does a miming of "Another Auld Lang Syne"
With sad face, and gestures of heartbreak
Then he hands me a letter
The letter reads:
"I want to be holding you, watching Christmas movies
     on the couch, with snow falling outside
     and the coziness of each other fireside
................love Julie

P.S. You know where to find me"

♡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