I tried talking to myself, they say
ten different voices in one head
means “Schizophrenia?”
or however you spell it.
The voices say “My spelling is fine!”
You can “Fuck off!”
if you think otherwise.
Them voices, they’re something.
At least they make me smile
sometimes. This life
it's beating me down
to the point of thoughts
that we don’t talk about.
Do you think them too?
A question that’s forbidden.
How many of us just want to leave?
“Exit, stage door left!”
Get straight the fuck out of this chaos
this life. I tried talking to myself.
I wouldn’t listen.
They wouldn't listen.
We never listen.
Michael E. Duckwall was born and raised in the Ohio Valley. A featured poet at the 10th and final Gonzofest in Louisville Ky. Michael’s poetry, artwork and photography have been in a handful of magazines and anthologies, along with numerous online features. He has a couple of chapbooks in publication and one limited edition co-authored chapbook you may have missed out on.
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i admire Michael's bravery speaking out on important subjects such as mental health. He, his son Charles and numerous other poetry greats including Lynne Brontstein, Ellyn Maybe, Amelie Frank, Ron Whitehead and Merritt Waldon are featured in my upcoming book WE ARE GREGOR: A DISABILITY RIGHTS ANTHOLOGY, edited by Alex S. Johnson and Alea Celeste Williams. All proceeds go directly to Special Olympics.
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