At a writers' workshop with Linda Rief a couple of summers ago, I drew this, my own version of Munsch's The Scream and wrote a poem about what it inspired in me. Basically, it's the struggle I've know over the last few years battling OCD.
The scream by Julia Nadon, Montebello, QC, August 2012
All of my fears have
joined forces against me
Advancing like an army
beating drums
My enemies have found
their way in
Through cracks in the
walls of my mind
I run from dream to
memory
Searching for weapons
And strength which
might set me free
From the phantoms of
doubt and worry
Paralyzed by anxiety
They ambush me
And shoot me
With obsessions
I’m a slave
To these masters
Cruel in their
gentility
They say they will
protect me
They rape and plunder
my soul
Then rear their heads
back and laugh
At my weakness
When I carry out my compulsions
To no end
Desperately trying to exorcise the terror
Their seeds have left
behind
All of my fears
Have joined forces
against me
Advancing like an army
beating drums
They’ve found their
way in
*******************************
Through cracks in the walls of my mind
They’ve found their way in
*****************************
From room to room I
run
From dream to memory
Searching high and low
For some strength to
set me free
******************************
Paralyzed by anxiety
They ambush and they shoot me
****************************
With obsessions and compulsions
I’m a slave (To these
masters)
I’m a slave (They’ved
found their way in)
**************************************
Cruel in their
gentility
They say they’ll
protect me
While they rape and
plunder my soul
Heads thrown back,
they laugh at me
*****************************
They laugh at my weakness
When I carry out their commands
Trying to exorcise the terror
Their seeds have left behind
*********************************
I’m a slave (To these
masters)
I’m a slave (They’ve
found their way in)
********************************
********************************
I’m a slave (To these
masters)
I’m a slave (They’ve
found their way in)
...
