Undertow

It's like a powerful undertow that pulls you down below, 
till darkness swirls around you and there's no place you can go. 
It fills your head with sadness and it buries any hope, 
and soon you find that sleeping is the only way to cope. 

You wake up every morning with that same dark inner dread, 
which leaves you feeling broken so you cannot leave your bed. 
And other days you feel so low that all you do is cry, 
and when it hits you rarely ever know the reason why. 

It feeds upon your energy and slowly drains your soul, 
and pretty soon it makes you feel that you're no longer whole. 
You cannot cope with simple things like getting up to dress, 
and even your surroundings start to look an awful mess. 

You slowly start withdrawing from your family and friends, 
which just compounds the problem like a loop that never ends. 
But there is always hope as you are stronger than you know. 
Just seek the help you need and you will beat that undertow.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Misra Avatar
October 6, 2021 at 8:15 PM
Anne, what a wonderful poem....to me it's complete in all respects. The Undertow is a very relatable condition, and presently, it resonates fully with me. I loved the glimmer of hope it provides at the end. I am going to fave it!
Breese Avatar
October 6, 2021 at 4:36 AM
Very well written and very thoughtful.
Lusardi Avatar
October 5, 2021 at 11:34 PM
What an accurate alternative description of a mental health malady that lays suffering on many thousands of folk. Brilliant really well written, in a mode that should help sufferers come to terms with the condition.
Perna Avatar
October 5, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Amazing, you have a wonderful way of expressing what a lot of us are feeling! Lovely piece!
De Beaulieu Avatar
September 25, 2021 at 5:57 AM
Hello Anne E. Sangster -K. It sounds like depression to me. I use to be depressed in my younger days. I read a lot of Helpful books on that topic. Now I am positive strong. eenjoy your day my friend.
Peck Avatar
May 8, 2021 at 2:39 PM
Anne, The undertow is a terrible thing. I was married 40 yrs to one suffering from bipolar. So sad. And Covid has made all of us depressed, I think. Thank you for writing about a misunderstood subject. It's a beautiful poem.
Sangster - K Avatar
September 5, 2019 at 11:57 PM
Thank you fellow poets for you kind comments. Anne S-K
There Avatar
September 5, 2019 at 10:52 PM
To me, this piece is impeccable ~ in form, flow, expression and your thorough understanding of the subject. I'm thoroughly impressed. A fave, for certain.
Lamoureux Avatar
August 29, 2019 at 8:09 AM
I hope many people read your poem. The more people who are aware the easier it is for people to talk about.
Lamoureux Avatar
August 29, 2019 at 8:07 AM
When dealing with depression opposites can be helpful. If you want to go to bed get up, if you don’t want to be around people go socialize. If you don’t want to participate in an activity then go and do it. It sounds counterintuitive but it can be life giving. If you don’t want to get help, seek out help.
Michael Avatar
August 25, 2019 at 5:12 AM
A lovely writing style...
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