04/02/2018
The following poem is from my book BIPOLAR POEMS BEFORE & AFTER LITHIUM.
THE ANGELS NEVER CAME
I know not when
Where, why or how
My mind is speeding - no cruise control
The Angels never came
No songs in the night
No rest, no peace
Creating, creating
The Angels never came
In city jail
In county jail
It's all the same
The Angels never came
Swinging high, swinging low
Going round
Round and round
The Angels never came
Thoughts ran fast
Thoughts rang wild
VA Psych Wards became my home
The Angels never came
American Lake was no resort
A playground for sickness
My last hope
The Angels never came
Strapped spread eagle to my bed
I could not move beneath the tarp
Locked dark room - one blue light
The Angels never came
I yelled and screamed and cursed
President Nixon, VA psychiatrists
Even yelled at God
The Angels never came
Free from straps
But still locked room
Blue light my only companion
The Angels never came
"I'll put you to sleep'
The dentist said
No, no, no!
The Angels never came
One by one all teeth came out
Zylocaine, Zylocaine please stay
Nothing left, mouth pain
The Angels never came
The Blood Lady came with her basket
I'd give all the blood she wanted
Until my arm became blue paralyzed
The Angels never came
Without warning
Lithium washed my mind
The Angels never came
They were always there
