Optimism Opposing My Insanity

Optimism Opposing My Insanity

By: Tristen Baker

The past is a dark crevice,

It has depression deeper than any trench,

I saw love crumble,

Right under all the hatred,

I was consumed.

I was conquered by my demons,

I allowed my hardships to win,

My depression was like a sickness,

And the pity I received was like a plague.

I burned in its quarantine,

For what seemed to be forever

I was isolated…

The only friends I had,

Were the ones who hurt me,

The truth is…

They weren’t worthy of the title.

For as many times my happiness was killed,

Slaughtered before my eyes

It was reborn,

And every time I became destroyed,

I rose from the dead,

Becoming something better than my past selves,

Time and time again.

I earned strength,

For every insult,

And every fist that connected with me,

Both physically and mentally,

My emotions became a callus.

With a heart,

Softer than clouds,

And emotions rough as sand paper,

I became confused,

I had always wondered when I’d find a clue,

Until one day….

I got my break through.

My insanity,

Never really had to be part of me,

But it built character,

And I can no longer say,

That I wish things were never that way.

It has not only been a curse,

It has been a gift,

For I can lift the burden from other people,

With words rather than fists,

Love instead of hate.

It’s like it was my fate,

To assume this higher position,

That I live in now;

I couldn’t tell you how it happened,

Yet I could tell in detail,

Why I turned my life around.

I learned,

That fists do not show strength,

They resemble weakness,

For as many beatings I received

And every lashing I took,

I was schooled in the martial arts,

Of self control;

Sometimes biting your tongue really is best,

Because it shows how much stronger you are,

Than all the rest.

Optimism is a power,

A force to be reckoned with,

But most importantly it can bring ease,

To the one person that should matter,

“Yourself”.

I fought bravely,

Against the odds that faced me,

Opposing every move I made in this game of life,

Until I put them into checkmate,

I have won.

This goes out to those with depression,

Those who feel that living isn’t great,

Those who want to die tomorrow,

Or wouldn’t care if they did;

The ones who really need a friend,

Who long for shoulder to cry on,

You are NOT alone…

Know that there is an end,

 To every arduous battle,

Beauty can sprout,

From the seeds of misery,

We just have to know where to begin.

There is no time too soon,

No moment too late,

So stand with me,

And allow our optimism,

To defeat our insanity.