Diana
didn’t intend to develop schizophrenia
which masticated within her brain regardless
of her want
inking pathways and dissecting certainty
a railway of colors lost in submersion
until Capgras Delusion bloomed
the moth of dissociation a star
sewn grossly on her shoulder
branding in disorder
Diana
didn’t mean to
self mutilate
causing a bald spot on her scalp to form
like paper becoming chinese lotus
a whirl of follicles perfectly circular
she wholeheartedly believed men made exact copies of people
“screens” that mimicked reality but were not
there were two screens of herself
one evil, one good
the good Diana
presented her doctor with a plea for help
I don’t want to be consumed by the whirl she said
biting her nails with reddened lips
the evil Diana considered if
she could reach the pencil and sink it in
to his rotten false arm
you’re obviously a fake she wanted to scream
I can see you! I can see your falseness!
like tar on the beach you wash up dead and stinking!
the good Diana kept quiet
this takes time to prove, she thought
sheltered behind her bamboo mask
tight and affixed with unknown glue
where once in a while she’d peer out
tongue lolling against wood
limbic system walking with disabled emotion
feeling like she was looking out of someone else
phosphorous haunting versions or a lighthouse
void of lamp
never finding her way back from cliffs edge
into phantom self
(Thank you to Vilayanur S. Ramachandran for his inspiring paper of the same name)
TheFeatheredSleep 
Heavy, and well done!
This is simply brilliant and haunting.
This is striking. I wish I had your talent and productivity.
Amazing writing…Love it.
There are, always things about ours selves we wan to disown, because they’re, unpleasant, and yet, until we can, fully accepted those “bad” parts if our selves, we will, never be considered, “cured” from whatever mental illnesses we may have been diagnosed by the psychiatrists with…
Candice, this is my fourth time reading this and every time I end up in tears. Candice, you are truly brilliant. You touch every inch of me with your emotions put into words
What a different take on schizophrenia! Very clever, you 🙂
Typically insightful
Candice this is marvelous!! I can’t describe the illustrations in my brain while I read this..its just wonderful. ❤
So powerful and haunting, Candice. This gave me the chills and made me want to cry for those who struggle with schizophrenia. Wonderfully written.
Beautiful artwork and powerful poetry. I enjoyed the tale in the words.
amazing!! I actually study the neurobiology of schizophrenia and it’s encouraging to see people talking about it and bringing attention to it. well done!
Thank you dearly, this was a hard one to get right but I really wanted the message to come across, I’m glad it did, thank you John very much
Dearest Wallace thank you so much my friend for reading this, it is dear to my heart and I am so grateful you
Thank you so much dearest Eric
I appreciate you
Ah! I am so glad you thought so!
I’m so excited to talk with someone who studies this subject! Wow! Very encouraged by your response and that you read this. Thank you. I do try to unveil the lesser known. It helps that a close friend had a brain tumor and subsequent seizures and I know many who have abnormal events of the brain, and I am fascinated by it, though by no means able to understand it at your level, hence why i am so appreciative to you thank you!
🙂
You are so welcome, Warrioress!!!
wow!!…and wow!!!…what else can I say? You are brilliant my dear ღ
I done did 🙂
Thank you my friend! ♡
It did and you are welcome.