I wrote this poem in 2008. One the BPD traits is feeling restless and oh my, I feel this a lot. Sometimes it’s for a few hours, sometimes it’s for a few days and I write about it.
I wrote this in 2007 when I transferred to a 4 year University. It was a rough experience.
me with my friends in 2007
I feel small in this enormous and elitist world it doesnβt seem like I will ever fit It only seems like a perfect fit for my younger, blonder, whiter, and younger counterparts Older, hispanic, and poor is not acceptable here. Should I even try ? When Iβm destined for failure on this institutionβs steps Failure on the steps is what I feel here- a place where my browner, poorer self feels like an outcast, an undesirable- by the eyes of prejudice
I wrote this poem in December of 2016 after my almost love affair with death on December 5th. It’s strange how aside from my journal entries from that month, I hardly remember that month. I just remember feeling so broken inside and like a failure after that happened that it was so hard to get up every morning. I do know that writing saved me during that time because I started journaling way more consistently. I would learn years later after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder that up to 10 percent of people with BPD die by suicide. Five years later, I’m glad that I had people by my side that prevented me from becoming one in ten. I’m glad that afterwards, I was able to slowly come back from thiseven if I was mostly depressed the year after and it was a fight to get up every single day.
For more information about the high risk of BPD and Suicide, here is a link from Psychology Today with info about it:
I wrote this in 2004 and revised it recently. It’s not based on anything from real life.
hard truth
Theyβre driving back from the theater. All evening heβs been quiet and she wonders what is going on. She reaches for his hand but he wonβt give it to her. She tries to look into his eyes and he looks away.She can feel him cold and distant. She no longer recognizes what is supposed to be βthemβ. With tears in her eyes, she says, βTell me whatβs wrong.β
βNothing.β he says as heβs still evading her eyes.
βDo you still love me?β she asks with a quivering voice.
βIβm sorry.Iβm in love with someone else. Itβs nothing you did. These things happen, I hope–
βSTOP!β she yells. Sheβs barely holding it together at this point.
βIβm really sorry, I just want to-β
βSTOP! Iβm done with this. Stop the car.β she screams at him.
βYouβre being crazy, at least let me-β
βNO. I want nothing from you! Stop the car NOW!β
βYou need to calm — he stops mid sentence as he sees her taking off her seat belt and unlocking the door. He stops the car. He says, βI just want–β
βFuck what you wantβ she says as she gets out of the car.
βBut I-β
βThere is nothing left to sayβ. She tells him. She walks away while she cries and laughs.She whispers to herself βfuck.once againβ.
I wrote this in 2003 about Damon who I was seeing again.
Your strange ways confuse me One moment you hold me in your arms The next moment you want someone else in your arms Do you want to break our amorous ties? Was the love you professed another one of your lies?
I wrote this poem in fall of 2005 when I was feeling overwhelmed by my responsibilities of being a mother, a girlfriend, a student and a worker. As usual at that time, I took on too much and was trying to be everything to everyone. One trait of BPD that I’ve carried throughout the years is over extending myself sometimes to my detriment in order to make other people happy.
I wrote this in March of 2020 as I was reflecting on my suicide attempt in December of 2016. I don’t remember writing this poem but that could be because it was a crazy time for me since I was an essential worker during COVID.
me in March of 2020 when I wrote this poem
Appearances were kept well for 15 years the husband, the salaried job, the 3 off springs I pretended like everything was fine And yet there were ominous signs I never felt like my authentic self and always felt false I tried on this so called suburban bliss and mediocre routines but knew it just wasnβt me So I ended up in profound misery And one day I wanted to forever sleep To forget my mediocre reality I took 15 numb feeling pills one for every pseudo happy year I wanted to slip into a forever dream to never wake up to my false stability
I wrote this poem about my husband in 2006 when we were in a rut of routine and being parents. I remember thinking how hard it was at the time to reconnect with him.