This is for my friend M., with whom I had a conversation today. Some days are like this; others, much better… Peace, Amy
Quiet House Riot
Alone, left at home.
Isolation is
cold consolation.
Then the storm moves in.
Soon floodgates open;
silent shrieks fill cracks
in fractured places.
Sea salt shores it up.
Building castles of crystalline tears.
The Dark Ones hand me a shovel.
They say, “Dig it.”
They aren’t hip – they’re talking about my grave.
Maroon lagoon
of sodden gloom.
So low,
solo.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Also at my poetic home, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
christine
Enjoyed reading this one out loud to myself.
Sharp Little Pencil
I do the same with every poem I read, all poets, all styles. Thanks, Christine!
Debbie
This was excellent, poem wise. But, thankful that some days are better too. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank God for that, right? Thanks, Debbie, for understanding. Amy
Laurie Kolp
Amy- Love this… excellent word choices!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Laurie, and nice to be in touch with you more often! Appreciate your input. Peace, Amy
wordsandthoughtspjs
Nice rhythm in this piece, Amy. I sent you an email with my correct link to my site. I am so technically challenged at times 🙂
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for this comment, Pamelita! And thanks also for the correct link – I will visit! Amy
Blossom Dreams
Your words have a wonderful flow to them…hope your friend M feels better soon.
Hope you’re keeping well too my friend! 😀
Chloe xx
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Chloe. Prayer is a huge help, for my friends and for me! I’m into meditation a lot, and it really keeps me focused… and also helps me focus on friends and family. xx Amy
Renee Espriu
Sad, but yes, some days are like this. I have Fibromyalgia and when I have energy it is a very good day, indeed. Well done.
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, Fibromyalgia… one of the many auto-immune diseases that is a lifelong trial by fire. I have friends who have it, and a good energy day is a blessing. In the same way, my brain disorder, the chemical imbalance of bipolar, gives me good and “bad” days… although I spend many of those writing for self-care. Perhaps your Fibro. was instrumental in leading your to the self-expression and freedom of poetry? Take care, and thanks, Renee. Amy
dreamingthruthetwilight
Amazing that you use writing to get around your mood swings. Amazing that you share your creativity . You’re a role model, do you realise that? Plenty just go under and refuse to summon up the positive energies to come thrashing out again. Cheers to your grit Amy:-)
Sharp Little Pencil
Nadia, thank you so much for this wonderful compliment. It wasn’t always this way, though… I had the Bad Old Days before being diagnosed, and I’ve found the right doctor who gives me enough medication to keep from talking to telephone poles, while still being able to access my muse… and a counselor who loves my whacky stories! Plus a husband who has seen me at my worst and has loved me through it all, and a daughter who survived being raised by the Unmedicated Me to become quite an artist in her own right. So blessed I am. Thanks, Nadia, and great meeting you and checking out your blog as well! Peace, Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Wow, powerfully emotional, with some good wordplay.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Madeleine. It’s from the past, but all true. The emotion is easy to conjure when it lives in your gut. Peace, Amy
beespoetry
Wow Amy. I don’t know why I’m always so surprised by your poetry, but you hit all these amazing notes, high and low, every time. Your poetry feels like music, from “isolation is/ cold consolation”, to “maroon lagoon/ of sodden doom”
I did have to chuckle at “dig it” though.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, many thanks for this kind comment. “Brilliant”? Wow! I’m spritzing, already! Thanks and peace, Amy
dreamingthruthetwilight
I’m sharing this blog page on My Facebook Page. I hope you don’t mind. You would be a source of inspiration to many. A friend of mine is a psychiatrist and she is quite a significant part of a group who are trying to improve the quality of lives of many with problems , some small, some chronic, which has gone untreated or with dirupted medication. I’d written about it in my blog under the title “Fractured Realities” Would you be kind enough to read it and may be share a little of your experiences , if you don’t mind? I repeat..you are amazing and you have an amazing family as well. My love to all of you
Sharp Little Pencil
Nadia, I’d be honored if you shared my link on Facebook. I’m very open about being manic depressive as well as having PTSD and being a sexual abuse survivor (my dad). The basics of my survival have been: Start slowly with a counselor, don’t take on issues until I am ready, use a psychiatrist if your counselor recommends it (but get referrals from friends), don’t take the psychiatrist’s word for it if you know a certain drug isn’t working for you (Lithium, for me, is Hell on earth; for others, it’s a life-saver. Everyone reacts differently.) Finally, once you get a regimen that works for you, stick to it at all costs, be open with friends and family and anywhere you feel “safe” doing so. Which for me means disclosing to total strangers if the conversation goes that way. So many folks have opened up to me about their kids having depression, “fearing” their kid might be gay (my daughter is gender-queer and I’ve been an outspoken straight ally for years)… it is freeing to be open. We need to fight the stigma and shame of mental imbalances. Hell, if you have diabetes, you may be on insulin. Same with the mind. But it scares people. I’ll go on your blog and give you my thoughts. Love, Amy
Judith
I don’t know how I found you but I am glad I did. I love your way with words and how you use them to assist you in dealing with your problems.
I have a son with epilepsy and he is very open about it, even makes jokes about it.
So I shall continue to read your posts.
Thank you for sharing.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Judith. I’m so glad we found each other! I am manic-depressive, as was my grandmother; my daughter functions quite well with Asperger’s. If you lived closer, I’d invite you over for coffee! Riley, my daughter is also in art school – she calls herself “The Artistic Autistic”! Yes, humor as a coping mechanism is highly endorsed in our home. See you at your blog! Peace, Amy
Judith
I like the Artistic Autistic – very clever. My son’s comment just before his sister’s wedding was “Mother will have a fit if I have a seizure during the ceremony”. Yes humour is a good way to deal with things we can’t change.
And I might just take you up on the offer for coffee – once time travel becomes available to us mere mortals. Meantime, we can enjoy each others company in the blogosphere.
Judith:)
Sharp Little Pencil
You’ve got it, sister. Building a vortex as we speak…! LOVE what your son said, shows he’s got it going on in the humor department.
Folks who don’t deal with these types of conditions, or who don’t have, say, an alcoholic in the immediate family cannot understand how we can laugh ourselves to tears about, “Remember the time when…” and it’s some awful story about being in a public place and something embarrassing happening. Like the time my sister got so drunk on Christmas Eve, then dragged her Jewish boyfriend to church for Midnight Carols and passed out. We were both holding her under her armpits. It was like “Weekend at Bernie’s”!! Keep smiling, Amy