A Poem for Artists When They Get Depressed
By JUSTIN KARCHER
When you’re living your best life
you’re hanging out with Shakespearean safety nets
Macbeth drinking Nyquil all night
he’s literally seeing things that aren’t there
moving forests
not really forests
more like alcoholic trees that got into car accidents
now they’re trying to rehab their limbs
slowly walking on treadmills for basically the rest of time
the things we do for our roots
but it’s worth it
keep that in mind
‘cause some nights
you’ll feel like a cocktail napkin
scattering across the wind
a dirty little thing
tattooed in missed connections and Rorschach stains
‘cause some nights
you’ll be sitting on a couch of thorns
trying to reveal your deepest, darkest secrets
to someone who’s not listening
you’ll wanna scream out, “My God, my God
why have you forsaken me?”
you don’t
but maybe you should
look through any window
the city doesn’t look a thing like Jesus
more like a serial killer
getting away with murder
trying to hide evidence of its atrocities
mountains of crumpled ATM receipts
a negative balance, running as fast as you can
feels like the future is spinning out of orbit
the perfect script in a language you can’t read
characters you’re scared to understand
the ghosts of beautiful teenagers
crying in front of vape stores
or astronauts floating
into the arms of an apathetic audience
addiction comes in many forms
maybe you should take it slow
but you’re so close
it’s just that
some days are worse than others
when the sun isn’t shining
when it feels like all your friends are avoiding you
it’s not just a cold
it’s sickness behavior
when you can’t find the strength
to leave the house
when you’re calling different tattoo shops
asking if they can tattoo your resume
your headshot
all over your body
‘cause you want to broadcast
your overqualified millennial sins
‘cause you have a dream
that one day
you’ll walk naked
into the places
where you used to work
offices, restaurants, bars, malls
‘cause you want to show America
how much you’ve tried
how ambitious you once were
but never forget your passions
‘cause some nights are still magical
when you’re in tune with everything
listening to firetrucks blasting their sirens
imagining they’re writing love letters
to dormant volcanos
a million miles away
the firetrucks are noisy
‘cause emotions are getting the best of them
and that’s okay
that’s the way it should be
nothing’s lost forever
sometimes we all just need a little help
sometimes it’s quite noisy living here
sometimes it seems impossible
to reignite your inner flame
but it can be done
remember
in winter
abandoned children fall from the sky
summer’s when songbirds do too many drugs
in fall
candles turn toxic & violently crawl into pumpkins
spring rains force earthworms out of their homes
but you have to be strong
resistance
the goal of this poem
armor you wear
when you feel you’re unable to create
when lovers leave
when good friends die
when storm clouds hover
when reality seems too overbearing
but all things pass
it’s gonna be okay