Image Complements of Vlad
you love me
you love me not
you see me not
you see me
i am here
i am not
i am pain
i am joy
i’m saving your world
i’m destroying your very soul
you’re my nightmare and despair
you’re my only saving grace and joy
i am the soft touch of love
i am the anger of the ages
i shall die today
i shall live forever
i am real
i am illusion
i am pure sin
my blood is pure
doctors say
bipolar
i say
living
hell
This is the third part of a series of poetry challenges between Jade (http://jadepaloma.wordpress.com/) and me. The whole idea behind it is to send a picture ( in this case by Vlad) to the other as inspiration (or visual muse, if you want to), and the other has to write a poem inspired by the image. Visit her site to see how she has responded to my second challenge photograph on her site.
Read Between the Minds 
I think I will go with ‘living hell’… but the question is, for whom? For the person living it, or for the person who has to live/interact with such a person? Either ways… tough!!!
And as usual, a very good choice of examples to suggest the contradicting nature…
And bipolar, say the doctor? Aren’t we all, once in a while?
By the way, I really liked this picture-poetry challenge between you and Jade… Sounds very interesting! And you both seem to be doing an awesome job!!! I would absolutely love to try it myself…
Keep up the brilliant work..
It’s a dreadful thing to live with, I have several friends who suffer from it.
or the world as it is, the tide ebbs and flows – wonderful poem
I say: GENIUS GENIUS GENIUS! My favorite so far within this challenge. It’s incredible what you can do with words!
PS Guess who’s back with whom? 😉
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The inner conflict is so vividly displayed in your words and so profound. Love the voive in this one. Heartspell
Should read “voice”… sorry for the typo. Heartspell
I’d have named it ‘the antonym of my Self’
I really really enjoy it!
Wow…This one is an eye-opener, looking through the eyes of a bi-polar person. To tell the truth, it gave me shivers down my spine.
This poem makes you step into another persons shoes to experience their daily life. It makes me feel very grateful for what I have, even when that does not seem enough some days. Wonderful poem.
Bipolar – doctors are so damn good at labeling, I bet if they’d been there they’d say it more like you just did.
What a perfect complement between image and words!
the inner conflicts we suffer.. the many phases we go through.. our inconsistencies.. your poem brings it all out very well… lovely read slpmartin.. !!
Just stumbled across your blog here, thought I’d let you know your poetry is fantastic. Can’t wait to read more! 🙂
The poems in this series are very powerful and filled with strong, concrete images but a few with blurred edges. You really were original in writing to the images.
Very excellent.
Pearl
what a word play,
love the image on top…
simple words, but it says a lot!
i love love love this…so true…’living hell’….adding you to my blog roll 🙂
The photograph is haunting. I think you did it justice with your words. I also like how the words are set on the page creating an image of struggle themselves. Beautiful.
Really enjoyed this one. Its funny how I read this from the reverse of the perspective to the voice that speaks it.
Thank you for sharing this. The insight into bi-polar is scary and fascinating all at the same time.
Such powerful words…and amazing picture. As always..your talent leaves one speechless. Thank you.
Stopped me, made me leave this comment.
In depth!
I like how you entered in the mood of the picture with this poem. Everything is dual here: from the black & white colors of the picture to the various pairs of opposite feelings & states. Impressive work, again.
This was very moving. The way you captured the conflict within the human spirit is great…I don’t know what else to say. I find bi-polar a difficult topic to discuss.
Wow. My favorite lines are: “i am pure sin/ my blood is pure.” That speaks depths to me.
the picture and words go together so powerfully and hauntingly well. The conflicts between illusion/reality and thoughts/emotions…I don’t think anyone has described it as well as this within just a few sentences.