A Child's Lament

A Child's Lament....

By Arlene Levin

(c) 1997

Sweet Mother in sorrow

Mourning your loss

Silently raging your guilt

You stand on life's edge.

Paralyzed, you look for answers

To painful to contemplate.

Diagnosis 1

The psychiatrist nods.

"Depression, quite common

After the death of a husband"

Prescription: "This pill, time and counseling."

Mother

"It's not working.  It's taking too long.

There must be something wrong.

My thoughts can burst bubbles in my chest?

My mind shakes my hands?

I'm not crazy, I'm sick"

"But Mother" cries the child

Diagnosis 2

Next doctor, a young neurologist.

"You're sick Old Woman.

Take these pills, not the others,

1 or 2 red ones, 4 times a day

and 3 of these blue ones when you remember

and to sleep take these,

Old Woman, can you still count?

"Mother." the child cries.

Now clouds crowd your memories

As pills sap your energy

On the arm of St. Vitus you dance

"Mother?" 

Mother

"I'm not crazy.  I'm sick, sicker.

Don't confuse me...1.2.3.4.

My doctor says...5.6.7.8.

The Child's Lament

Stubborn in your fears

Terrified in your anxiety

You swallow the orders 

That obscure your reality.

Mother help me.  What do I do now?

Mother help me help you"