Escape Can Be Forever
Authentic, unapologetic
Manic-depressive, chose Meth over meds
Yowling cat-scratch vocals
Wound-up top
Inviting us for a spin
Next to none, under your skin
Energetic, enigmatic
House-high beehive
Outrageous, bawdy “bad girl”
Undulating at the mic
Soul singer to the end
Everlasting, never built to last… Amy Winehouse
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
NOTE: For ABC Wednesday, took longer to complete than I imagined, but wanted to get it right. Amy Winehouse’s legacy is not just her incredible music. She serves as a symbol of the confusion between addiction and mental illness. It’s true that many times, as with my own mother, people who need other help self-medicate… the difference is, Amy was DIAGNOSED as manic-depressive (bipolar) and refused to take prescribed medicine or stick with therapists.
To say she was an addict and post “Just say no” on FaceBook does a great disservice to many people who might see themselves in Amy’s downward spiral and possibly seek medical help. As a person living with manic depression and PTSD, I wanted this message to go out to as many folks as possible.
Also posted at Poets United. RIP, Amy Winehouse, and peace to her family and fans, Amy Barlow Liberatore
Sharp Little Pencil 
Daydreamertoo
Yes indeed. It’s easy to point fingers and say she should’ve done this said NO etc etc but, until you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes, you never know where they’ve been.
Lovely, deep and meaningful prose on such a misunderstood subject too.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much for this sensitive comment. It’s true, the two problems of mental illness and addiction are intermingled, but one (undiagnosed, usually) often precedes the other. Peace, Amy
Bodhirose
When I think of her, I see someone who was in so much turmoil and pain and yet I see her brilliance too. I’m glad you chose to voice your feelings here Amy–it’s really important. I like what you wrote.
I agree, “Just Say No” doesn’t cut it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen, sister. Yes, so much pain, and she wore it on the outside. A Joplinesque life, in a way… thanks, Bodhirose! Amy
christine
she did an amazing voice
Sharp Little Pencil
And spirit to match. What a loss.
Roger Green
Yeah, Nancy Reagan’s sloganeering, if it helped anyone, wouldn’t ever help the addictive personality.
Sharp Little Pencil
Nancy Reagan was no Betty Ford, that’s for sure!
Debbie
Thank you, Amy, for using your gift of poetry and song to also inform and help. You are a house on a hill. . .
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you so much, Debbie. One of the guys at our church wrote a song called, ‘Big, Strong House.’ That’s what I hope to become! Amy
Inside the Mind of Isadora
AMEN ..!!!!
She was a great talent whose life ended much too soon. She was unique in everyway including her illness. She is a perfect example of what goes on with people who suffer with this dsease. We need more research to discover how to keep them from going into their reality which is not the real realtiy. Understanding people who have this disease more and not condeming them for it would be a start that doesn’t cost anything except a heart that is open to caring.
Touching and exceptional ..
Isadora
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Izzy, for these comments. It’s true, we don’t understand enough – and some doctors are actually TOO quick to diagnose children, then ply them with drugs which clearly are not for developing brains, under the age of 18 or so. All holistic methods should be tried, along with support groups, perhaps parenting classes… and unplug the damned TV. That goes for ALL kids, really!
I appreciate your kind critique of my tribute to an amazing, baffling, gone-too-soon dynamo. Love, Amy
vivinfrance
Powerful poem and process notes,. You show great insight into a situation most of us couldn’t begin to understand. Thank you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Viv. Having been a singer in clubs (though nowhere near famous, and therefore as pressured, as A.W.), self-medicated for years BEFORE I got my diagnosis, then settling into the bipolar lifestyle, I do have the inside track. The saddest part for me is those who have the diagnosis and have the Rx and therapy available but are convinced they don’t want to be controlled… if you ever get a chance, Google the lyrics to her most famous track, Rehab. (“I ain’t got the time… they’re tryin’ to make me go to rehab, I won’t go, go, go”) So sad. Thanks, Amy
MiskMask
You really caught Amy in this one. Totally recognisable in every word. A lovely tribute. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Marilyn. I had followed her career closely and was so heartbroken when she began her descent. Rest in peace, little girl…
Peace, Amy
hollyjb
I didn’t know any of that before reading this post. I knew she was into drugs and I knew what she looked like and that she sang, but other than that (and that she was British) I didn’t know anything about her.
You’ve reminded me that it’s important to get as many facts as possible before judging someone. I know it’s wrong to judge and I try not to, but the fact is I’m only human and when not keeping myself in check I might judge someone with out ever meaning to. Even if it’s as simple as not taking the time to find things out, that can be just as bad.
Sharp Little Pencil
Just remember not to judge YOURSELF too harshly, Holly. After all, there’s only so much time in a day to spend gazing at celebrities. It was simply that intersection of singing (and I am a big fan of her style), drug use, and manic depression that brought this forth. Thanks, Holly – peace, Amy
Jess P
You did a great job with the acrostic. I love acrostics. It had some nice rhythms and good rhymes too.
Sharp Little Pencil
Jess, thank you! I was an early fan of Amy’s and wanted to do something in the way of a tribute. Glad the rhythms worked, especially – she was all about the rhythm! Amy
mish
I loooooove Amy Winehouse’s music 🙂 … and that voice … to call it amazing is an understatement …
I wondered how long she would last … the similarities to Janis Joplin were too strong , so for me the “writing was on the wall” … but she will go down as an icon !!!
You’ve crafted a lovely tribute and the words are well-chosen !
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Mish, for all your wonderful comments. Yes, I agree with you, the Joplin comparison holds, except perhaps for Amy’s mental diagnosis and stubborn refusal to seek treatment… hard to say what was up with Janis, since that was years ago. Amy Winehouse’s music will be alive and kickin’ long after the Duffy-types have faded from view, all those beehive pretenders… Peace, Amy
TheMsLvh
I read your poem yesterday and had to come back this morning to congratulate you on a great poem. Thank you for bringing attention to this topic! Brava!
Sharp Little Pencil
I appreciate this, Ms. L. It’s a complicated subject, and I was hoping not to be too preachy. I thank you for your support! Let’s keep meditating on all the folks out there (including about half our prison population) who are in need of mental health treatment… Peace, Amy
Mar
Beautiful tribute to great and wonderful Amy!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Bless you, Mar, I appreciate the compliment. Yes, she was an absolute stunner… Peace, Amy
Kwee Lewis
Very good. I am reminded of the Supervisor, and even my mother, who just cannot understand why I can’t “just get a grip.” If I would just do that, according to them, I’d be okay.
Thank you, sweet one. You have such a poignant, gentle and yet direct way of making me feel, well, not alone. Thank you, my Friend.
Sharp Little Pencil
Poetry is one way of fulfilling my calling to de-stigmatize all mental disorders, as well as the simple talking about things like my mom’s alcoholism and Blanche’s “Snake Pit” incarceration in electroshock hell in the 30s and 40s. If this poem helps anyone feel better (especially you), then it’s worth setting up the blog, you know?
I cannot STAND people who say, “Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” I tell them, but what if you were born without them? Without the raw materials you seem to be so proud of? If you become diabetic, you’ll take insulin. I have a different chemical imbalance. Get over it.
That’s LITERALLY what I tell people, but only if they really, really show they are bigoted in that way. My only prejudice is against bigots!! Much love, Amy