Mental Health Awareness Month Poem + Video: Life and Living
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, DePaul is proud to share a powerful original poem by Carmen Gordon, Residential Services Coordinator at McKinley Square in Buffalo. This heartfelt piece shines a light on the importance of mental well-being and the strength found in vulnerability.
Life and Living
by Carmen Gordon
Life operated on me without using Novocaine.
Life sat at my table; life left a stain.
Life kicked down my door and entered uninvited.
Walked off with my goals, knowing I’m short-sighted.
Life posed as a friend and said I can keep a secret.
Then cowardly admitted, “I couldn’t keep it.”
Life invited me to parties, said there was no fee.
Then come to find out, the joke was on me.
To enter, they wanted control of my free will.
Said I must be broken and unwilling to heal.
They served despair, for all to tow.
Gifted toxic seeds for planting, since what you feed will grow.
Life picked me up from the party, expecting darkness and gloom.
But found that my light had permeated the room.
So, I took a break from life and got involved with living.
And found this companion to be much more forgiving.
I started reading books, meeting people, and facing my fears.
Before I looked up, we had been dating a year.
Living would come by to check my progress.
Living was surprised, I’d passed all those tests.
Living challenged my mind and determination, until I began to thrive.
See life is not personal, it’s living that makes you feel alive.
So, I wrote life a letter, saying we’d meet again at death.
But for now, I’ll keep living until my last breath.
Life is not living, and living is what you make it.
Life belongs to no one, and your last exhale will take it.
Sincere thanks to Carmen for sharing such a powerful and thought-provoking piece – thank you!
We invite you to explore DePaul’s Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram posts throughout May as we continue to foster understanding, break down stigma, and amplify voices in support of mental health this month and every day as we live out our mission.