36 Comments
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Stephanie M. Vargo's avatar

This is a horrible experience. I am so sorry you had to go through this. Your poem touched my heart with concern and outrage for you. How frightening. Sending you love.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Thank you for your compassion, Stephanie. Life is a strange experience.

G. B. Barin's avatar

That is heartbreaking and beautiful. I cannot imagine your feelings going through this, but your words give me a glimpse. My heart goes out to you, Rea. ❤️

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I survived, that's important. Thank you, Gabriela. ❤️❤️

Dora's avatar

Rea, I felt every line like a pulse returning after darkness.

Your voice comes from the edge of something sacred — where pain becomes awareness.

It’s not just poetry, it’s resurrection. Thank you for trusting us with it. ✨❤️

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Thank you for your compassion, Dora. It was a hellish experience.

Marjorie Pezzoli's avatar

Wow, what an experience to suffer through. This poem gives me more insights to what someone very close to me said….”felt like my brain was on fire”. Thank you for sharing & so glad you are on the other side of this. Powerful writing 💥✍️💥

Rea de Miranda's avatar

My brain was absent, Marjorie. Yes, thank goodness. Sending love. ❤️

B Philippe's avatar

Welcome back. It’s a little better this time around, I promise ❤️

I love this, whole-heartedly. Beautifully written.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

It must be. ❤️ Thank you.

Virginia Curtis's avatar

You bring so much compassion and heart to your writing. This piece made me so sad for you.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Thank you for your kindness, Virg. ❤️

Ellis Wiens's avatar

"Behind my eyes, nobody saw / Consciousness oscillating / Battling to stay present" This stanza has a frightening clarity. We get so used to reading people's facades that we sometimes need a double take when it all falls apart. A real eye-opener in regards to the social aspects of mental illness

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Precisely! It's not a physical falling apart. Thank you.

Chano's avatar

Rea, this image evokes some deep feelings. I recognize that grief and loss can shatter us. Hugs my friend!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Thank you, Chano. Hugs back at you.

Esther Stanway-Williams's avatar

Oh Rea, this must have been terrifying. Having zero control, and slipping in and out of different levels of consciousness. Glad you came back to yourself!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

It was sheer terror when my mind surfaced with no clear understanding of what was happening.

Thank goodness I'm not that insane any longer.

Esther Stanway-Williams's avatar

It will be a great chapter of your memoir 👌

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Oooh I’ve been here. Thanks for the reminder that it’s Not a place I want to re visit

>>>

Behind my eyes, nobody saw

Consciousness oscillating

Battling to stay present

Rea de Miranda's avatar

The craziest thing is that nobody realized this. I was acting crazy, and they thought it was normal?

Bougie Hippie's avatar

we have a good front - don't we?

Marpy Hayse's avatar

Not that mine was anywhere near your nightmare, but I had a dreadful reaction to morphine after surgery years ago. Months of hallucinations. I'm glad you're back on this side. Praying for no lingering symptoms. I love your writing!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

That's awful, Marpy! Thank you. ❤️

Storm Whisperer's avatar

Great read. Its like an outer body experience. Where you can see it but can't do anything about it. Your stuck there. Loved how you articulated it. ~ Nerra ⚔️⚡️⚖️

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I love what you read in my words, Storm.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Harrowing, so glad you made it through. The art equally so!! What a light you are to others who may be caught in the haze. <3

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Your compassion is a shining light, Stephanie. Thank you.

The Weight of Almost's avatar

The best poetry comes from pain. This is a great poem.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Thank you! I appreciate that.

Mark Farley’s wandering’s's avatar

So pleased that you lived to tell the story. A truly terrifying experience.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Oh me too! Thank you, my friend.

Lily of Oz's avatar

I’m sorry you were subject to this abuse. It’s a sore point for me, but will say I’m glad you’re hopefully out the other side. And it’s great you wrote about it. 🫶

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I'm out the other side, beat up but not giving up. Thank you, Lily. 💞

Lily of Oz's avatar

🫂