My depression is many things.

my depression is a veil

that impairs my vision

forced to obey

oppressed I stay

unable to escape

this pre-enlightened state

I can’t get myself

to remove it.

My depression is an ocean

powerful

it pulls me under

I drown, slowly

in my thoughts

rocking back and forth

I begin to feel

seasick

and the nausea

makes food

so unappealing.

my depression is a blanket

I continue to hide under

in 90 degree weather.

I want nothing more

than to hop out of bed

open up the blinds

and focus on absolutely

anything else

instead,

I suffocate in silence

sweating under this

damn thing

and think about all

the ways to explain

that my depression

is a shapeshifter

that hides

behind my smile.

TOODALOO JW

Jamila Wardak