Tragidienne: an actress who plays tragic roles

Because my belly aches

And my thoughts run amuck

Maybe it seems

I am one wrecked truck

That my life

Never seems to shine

Just a “Debbie Downer”

A tragedienne

While it is true

My now’s not the same

There was a time

Of fun and games

Turning cartwheels

Maybe knocked my brain

For I know my head hit the ground

One hundred times before I learned how

To land on my feet

And not on my head

To shake off the not

And celebrate the yes

For there was a time

When I could jump and run and play

Could climb any tree

And hang off of any limb

And it is easy to forget those times back when

All it took was a mud pie to make me grin

While I know there are those who understand

Some see me only as a tragedienne

Makes me wonder about Sylvia Plath,

Gunther and John Donne

“Death Be Not Proud”

For it is not fun for anyone

Robin Williams made us laugh

Yet inside he battled wrath

Maybe someday I will become all bright and shiny

Smile all the time like I did when I was tiny

Sunshine will spill forth

Life of the party

Set sail from every port

Riding the “Good Ship Lollipop”

Separate the poet from the person

Speak not of the grief

Nor share the demons

Slipping into my head as I try to sleep

Slip, slip, slip away

Do all I can to make someone’s day

Be there everywhere

Be what you need

Not speak of confusion

Frustration or pain

Just keep the bands marching

In floods, droughts or thundering pain

Maybe you have noticed

I don’t come around as often as I should

That I don’t show up like I said I would

Too quiet and sheltered from life’s big world

I cut myself off

Hold my tongue

Slash my words

Into bits and pieces

Yes, you are right

There are times when

My darkness overcomes

And it may seem I am nothing but a tragedienne

That is okay

You have the right to see me as you will

But luckily for me I have friends

Who get me and know my pain is real

To them I say: Blessed are ye

For your love and understanding

For your wisdom and care

But most of all for just being there