I Am Withdrawn

By Malcholm Dark

I have built a tremendous prison deep inside my head
Withdrawn and in misery, all my wanting has now fled.
No telephones, no visitors, nothing but this sadness
No fortitude, just solitude coupled with the madness.
Creepers of pain and sorrow are strewn across its' gate
Locked and sealed up tightly--Behold, my enduring fate!

--From people around me and the things I have known...
I am withdrawn.
--Do not search for that door which unlocks my mind...
for I have gone.

If one should peer within my prison, spy the last remains
Of this tortured, helpless creature hobbled by his chains.
Staring through the bars into a world I once was a part of
Remembering such things as fulfillment, happiness and love.
There is no escape from this prison I have built
For fear guards me now and my keeper is guilt.

--From people around me and the things I have known...
I am withdrawn.
--Do not search for that door which unlocks my mind...
for I have gone.

This tortured soul must take refuge from its' pain
So a plug was pulled which disconnected the brain...
now I am gone, I am withdrawn!

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Published on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Filed under: "Depressed" and "Poetry"

Author's Note:

when the pressures of this world are upon you, pull the plug... fade away... become withdrawn!

Comments on "I Am Withdrawn"

A former member wrote: wow just wow great job
On Friday, April 29, 2011, Poe Etiquette (124) wrote:

i love the tone of this and other of your poems. the constraint but also freedom from reality that lies within the mind. very beautiful
On Saturday, March 5, 2011, jonLyndon (113) wrote:

"Of this tortured, helpless creature hobbled by his chains." A very inspiring, speculative poem you have created here. I really like your rhyme-timing; it works very well. Oh the prisons we all find ourselves within only to become withdrawn. The only thing I, IMO, would change is to keep, or write "I am withdrawn" twice in what can be called the chorus (if this were a song) i.e. instead of adding "for I have gone" I'd repeat the title. I think it would be more effective, but still, it is your poem, that is my little critique, constructive I hope. It's a very powerful, poignant work. You have let us inside a deep, personal place. Behold, our enduring fates! I really like the change of pace & style in the final verse: it works perfectly, ends as it should; simply & to the point. Very well written! Cheers.
On Saturday, March 5, 2011, jonLyndon (113) wrote:

I also really like the line: "No telephones, no visitors, nothing but the sadness." And, again that final verse, leaving us w/ a kind of dark, cyberpunk SciFi speculation."This tortured soul must take refuge from its' pain So a plug was pulled which disconnected the brain..." Of course, it doesn't have to be skiffy or cyberpunk as these hospital-factory worlds exists in reality, but I sense something more fictional (could just be me?). All the same, I love it.
On Friday, March 30, 2012, Malcholm Dark (806) wrote:

The idea or phrase, pull the plug, is an old metaphor for disconnecting your thought process... like those people in a sanitarium staring away for hours, drooling out the side of their mouths... nothing to do with sci-fi... thanks for the comments
A former member wrote: The body is not a tool to control to do what you will with it but a prison that you had to escape from. I like this concept it is a concept that I have felt and myself wanted to express. Just like when you life is going south and you can't figure out what to do. Eventually you'll do anything to escape maybe one day you could lend me the secret. ^_^
On Thursday, April 29, 2010, Wiccad (124) wrote:

This is sad and beautiful.
On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, Miztaken4beauty (176) wrote:

A prison of the body. One prison that few can escape.
A former member wrote: So very beautiful. I often feel as though I am living my life in my head. I love reading poetry that makes me feel, and this is a truly emotional piece in my opinion @>*~
A former member wrote: I totally relate to this. I fall into my own prison quite often and this is exactly how I feel. I just want to isolate from the world. Very well written and it flows nicely.
A former member wrote: Wow, this was great! =)
On Friday, March 5, 2010, punk mc cool (74) wrote:

loved it dude loved your flow loved loved the idea it was great :D
On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, Dilated View (582) wrote:

Excellent flow throughout. I understand what it's like to be a prisoner in your own mind to block out other things which might cause worse pains but it still is a lonely way to exist. Nicely written.