There is no key
Secret or otherwise
To unlock a mind
That has gone awry
Stretched to breaking point
By three wretched visitors
Stress, the spirit suppressor
Anxiety, the spirit disabler
Fear, the spirit destroyer
There’s no front door
No easy access
You need to delve
Take the time to explore
To test and experiment
Following the clues
Traveling the paths
Half formed and rutted
With your tiny hammer to hand
Built of unconditional love
You must chip away
At the filters and barriers
Unraveling the maze
Breaking down the walls
Removing the debris
It could take months
Or even years
There is no way of measuring
Its unfathomable presence
You have to persist
Until you find your way in
And the healing can begin
By Roberta Eaton Cheadle
I haven’t written any poetry for months. The spirit just has not moved me so I was pleased when the idea for this poem popped into my head in response to this photo.
Written for Fiction in a Flash Challenge hosted by Suzanne Burke. You can join in here: https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/2020/08/14/fiction-in-a-flash-challenge-new-image-prompt-week-13-pursoot-iartg-asmsg-writingcommunity/
roberta-writes.com 
Excellent!
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Thank you, Darlene. It’s about my son who has OCD.
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I thought perhaps. It can apply to many of us though.
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Beautifully done, Robbie…
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Thank you, John.
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Well done!
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Thank you, Bette. I was pleased to finally have a break through with poetry.
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Nice one Robbie… a different take on the Key!
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Hi Balroop, yes, this just floated into my head. It is about Greg.
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Ah, I’m home and with my own kind…
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Haha, thank you, Tom.
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You speak so eloquently for all who have lost some parts of their sanity.
I like how you named these spirits:
“Stress, the spirit suppressor
Anxiety, the spirit disabler
Fear, the spirit destroyer”
May that little hammer we carry have all the strength needed to tackle those invisible barriers.
~Looking forward for a short term get-a-way next month. Other than that… pretty much the same old wash 🙂
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Thank you, Jules. I am glad this poem resonates with you. Dealing with mental illness and extreme anxiety does take a lot of patience and resilience too. I hope you have a lovely get away. I am hoping we can go away for a few days in September.
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Well done Robbie! I’m glad you kept chipping away at the fear and poetry.
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Thank you, Brad. I appreciate your visiting me here and your comment.
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My pleasure.
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Lovely Robbie. Its so inspiring too.
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Thank you, Smitha. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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This is wonderful Robbie! I have OCD and anxiety, so I truly relate to this.
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Hi Kim, so does my son and this poem is about him. I have anxiety but I am not OCD as I don’t have compulsions, I only have obsessions.
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That’s beautiful Robbie. I have mild OCD, with more obsessions than compulsions, but with the pandemic I’ve been finding everything getting worse.
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What a great “pop” indeed. Isn’t it wonderful, the places our poetic minds take us? I love your version of the “key,” and what it can’t unlock without removing all that debris, first!
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It is strange how poems pop into your mind, literally. I find poetry easier to write than prose, but I never can’t write prose, but I go through patches when I have no poetic inspiration.
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Great poem. I like where you took this, Robbie. A subject not spoken of enough.
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Thank you, Denise. Actually, I have you to thank for this poem as it came to me when I read your post for this prompt.
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I’m glad it did come to you 🙂
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Wonderful poem, Robbie! Glad your poetry muse came calling again. This was a fantastic take on the photo prompt!
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Thank you, Mae. It has been a long time since I wrote a poem. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Vivid and hopeful, despite naming some demons. This is a good poem for our times now.
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Thank you, Audrey. I am glad you enjoyed this.
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Well done – poems need the right energy before they can hit the page.
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Thank you, Andrew. That is true. I have to be inspired to write poetry. It is something that comes to me in a big rush and not something I labour over.
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Stress, anxiety, and fear… you certainly captured this torture well.
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It effects everyone, Annette, and we all deal with it differently, depending on our backgrounds, life experiences and natural tendencies.
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and it’s nice to have help along the way; beautiful poem, Robbie.
At one point it reminded me a bit of the movie The Shawshank Redemption with the hammer and the chipping away…
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Hi Jim, yes, I remember that clearly as I listened to that book this time last year while we drove around Scotland. His patience was also eventually rewarded although he should never have been imprisoned in the first place.
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it’s a great story. If you have not seen the movie, I highly recommend it…
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Thanks so much for taking part in my challenge, Robbie. This poem strikes a chord in so many of us. I’ll be featuring it with great pleasure later today on the Challenge site. Thanks again! 😊
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That couldn’t be truer, Robbie–“three wretched visitors”
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Yes, I see how these three things wreak havoc on the mind and spirit, Jacqui. It is very visible now with all the C-19 anxiety. Thanks for your comment.
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The only one true key is,
The one that unlocks the mouth,
Frees the vibe that skulks inside
Seeks the scrabble Unties the knot
That prevents a tongue from speaking.
#SpeakUp
Worth waiting for Robbie.
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HI Ellen, thanks for sharing this. It is very meaningful.
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Excellent use of metaphor! I’m glad the spirit moved you to get back to poetry.
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I think my head gets to full of my book writing and there is no space for anything else. I also find that when I am very stressed at work, poetry and children’s stories don’t flow.
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This is a breathtaking and essential poem.
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Reblogged this on Art by Rob Goldstein and commented:
A breathtaking and essential poem from Roberta Writes
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Thank you for sharing, Rob. I am glad this poem resonated with you and it is good to see you.
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Thanks, Robbie.
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Robbie, your poem is a wonderful response to the prompt. I love the last lines! Let the healing begin!
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Thank you, Jan. Mental illness is a difficult concept for people who haven’t experience to understand. I liken it to having a brain in a wheelchair. People understand that visual.
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This is very nice, Roberta.
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Thank you, Dan. I’m hoping more will follow.
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Thank you for this insightful poem. Having worked as a therapist for 30 years, I have found this to be true. Recovery and healing is usually a process of steps. It helps to have that reminder, especially with those we love.
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HI JoAnna, my son suffers from PTSD and OCD. It is a slow road to improvement but you keep travelling it. I don’t say recovery, as it never goes away, but it does improve.
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Wow, Robbie. A powerful poem. Beautifully written and deeply touching.
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Thank you, Diana, I value your feedback.
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Reblogged this on powerfulwomenreaders.
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Bravo Robbie. I hope there are many to be released.
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Thank you, Frank. It’s been a weird time for me. I’ve always written poetry but not a word would come during this lockdown.
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Locked down and locked up. I understand that.
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This made me cry, Robbie. I think Grandma often felt this way as dementia took over her brain and we were the axes chipping away at the fog of her memories. Powerful ❤
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Watching someone with dementia deteriorate must be awful, Jacquie. Hugs.
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A beautiful poem, Robbie. You capture that whole distressing process so eloquently 🙂
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Thank you, Harmony. I am glad you appreciated this poem.
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Great poem Robbie, you caught it perfectly.💜
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Thank you, Willow. I’m glad you related to this poem.
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Mental health is the poor relative of NHS and all health care providers all over the world. I truly do relate to it Robbie 💜
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Thought-provoking. Enjoyed no end.
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Thank you, Jane. I am delighted to know that.
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The mind is one of our toughest opponents. Beautifully done, Robbie.
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It really is, Staci. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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Bravo, Robbie! xo
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Thank you, Natalie.
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Such a great poem, Robbie! And so glad you got through the drought.
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I have to be in a certain mood for poetry, Christy, and I have to be inspired.
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I’ve seen many clients going through this, Robbie. All the anxiety and fear built up all the years. It takes a lot and a long time to heal. Great job writing this poem.
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Thank you, Miriam. Anxiety and depression play a bit role in our modern world.
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I know, it’s the downside of the modern culture, Robbie.
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I suppose, Miriam, that it lends credence to the old saying “be careful what you wish for.”
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It’s true, Robbie.
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Sometimes thoughts come organized and sometimes words are simply wrappers for feelings. This was on3 if those feelings moments looking for a way out. So much for organization ruling the creative subconscious, huh? I must confess when I saw the first line in the reader it reminded me of an old naughty Confucius say joke, though!
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Haha, Phil, yes, the title is a bit misleading. I should have given it more thought. Thanks for your comment. Creativity is a weird thing.
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This is amazing Roberta. I looove it💕🧡♥️💚
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Thank you, Jude. I finally broke through with a poem.
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A really good one
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Great poem, Robbie. I’m struggling with those nasty three at the moment. Seems like every time I beat them back into submission, they rally their strength and come back worse than ever. Just have to keep at it I guess 🙂
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They are very tough foes to overcome, Jessica. I think a lot of people are struggling with this prolonged pandemic.
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Yes, after the pandemic crisis is over, then the economic crisis, I think there’ll be a mental health crisis to contend with.
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I think the mental health crisis has already started.
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Sadly, yes.
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The messages to those who suffer from depression and anxiety are really well-crafted here. Thanks for writing such a bold, encouraging poem!
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A excellent one. I love the philosophical expression so much. Thank you for sharing, Robbie. Best wishes, Michael
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