The Psychiatric Experience
A collection of poems by Aidan Rafferty
E.C.T.
They came at
8am.
‘Where are you
taking me?’
‘E.C.T.’
The needle’s
sharp and stings.
You wake up; confused.
‘You’ll be
better soon’.
Dreadfully Sorry
Well, we had to
bring you in.
We can’t have
it you know.
You were swimming around.
Can’t have that,
you know.
Look at the
smile on your face.
It’s serious,
you know.
Don’t you
realize what you’ve done.
Can’t have that
you know.
Dreadfully
sorry.
Be A Patient Patient
‘I want to see the doctor’.
You’ll have to wait’.
‘I want a cigarette’.
You’ll have to wait’.
‘I want a cup of tea’.
You’ll have to wait’.
‘How is the patient today, nurse?
‘Impatient’.
Thinking
‘There’s nothing good or bad.
But thinking makes it so’.
I think I’m well,
Therefore I am well
You think I’m ill,
Therefore I am ill.
I think that’s right,
But someone’s wrong.
Wondering
I wandered around the
ward,
Wondering.
What it would be like,
To be allowed to go
out alone.
But to be out alone,
You must first be
well.
Which is why you
wander on the ward.
Relapse
‘How is the patient?
‘Much better. He’s
taken his medication’.
‘Had a shower and
made his bed.’
‘He’s just had a
row
With a member of
staff.’
‘The patient has
had a relapse.’
The smile you smile
Your smile that
day,
Was the only thing
That gave me
strength to live.
You hoped that way,
I’d laugh and sing.
Forget and forgive.
Special
You were
beautiful,
But not especially so.
You were
intelligent,
But not
especially so,
You were funny,
But not
especially so.
You were kind,
Especially so.
You were you,
You were special.
