I used to be concerned with
How much I did,
Or how much I didn’t do,
Evaluating whether or not
I was up to snuff
With my own priorities,
And of course,
Whether or not
I kept my wife happy.
Lately, things have
Taken a different turn.
Since my body
Has seen fit
To rebel against me,
And my doctor
Doesn’t seem able
To reign things in,
My priorities have
Changed quite a bit.
In fact, the term
“priorities” doesn’t
Seem to fit anymore,
Not for how most
People think about it.
My biggest priority
Is my medicine.
That’s not a new one,
At least on the surface,
Since I’ve had bipolar
For over 15 years,
And been taking meds
For just as long.
But now it makes
An immediate,
Drastic difference.
And the long-term risk
Without it,
Is terrifying.
It’s like food
And water.
And the third need,
Common to all of us,
But more drastic for me,
Is sleep. More specifically,
I have to keep my sleep
In order. I have to take
A strong round of meds
Throughout the day,
And then really
Pulverize my mind
With meds
At the end of the day,
Just so I can sleep.
And I have to start
A methodic relaxation,
Early, despite being
A night person.
Otherwise,
I will not be getting up
For work in the a.m.
Obviously,
Things have changed
A little bit.
(Poetic Asides
“Priorities”)
