A Rollercoaster Ride of the Mind

By D. J. Chard

At some point in our lives, each of us has faced challenges that take a toll on our mental health. Yet societal norms often push us to suffer in silence, to sweep mental health issues under the rug. For generations, these attitudes have perpetuated a cycle of hidden suffering. This book delves into the intricate landscape of mental health through the lens of poetry. It takes readers on a transformative journey from the depths of despair to the light of hope, offering recognition and understanding for complex emotions.

The book’s primary goal is to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health. It vividly captures the wide array of emotions, thoughts, and physical impacts that mental health challenges can impose, from despair and confusion to hurt and loss. Each poem serves as an honest reflection, aimed at offering solace and assurance that hope exists for those struggling. Together, by listening empathetically and without judgment, we can change societal perceptions about mental health, offering not just a critical eye but a nurturing heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9781398473287

D. J. Chard

D. J. Chard is a poet who lives in Hampshire with her family. Before writing, she studied animal management at Sparsholt College, where she gained a variety of experiences working in different environments.

Book preview

About the Author

D. J. Chard is a poet who lives in Hampshire with her family. Before writing, she studied animal management at Sparsholt College, where she gained a variety of experiences working in different environments.

Dedication

For my grandad, Robert Nash, who inspired me to write poetry from the beginning.

Copyright Information ©

D. J. Chard 2024

The right of D. J. Chard to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398473270 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398473287 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.co.uk

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank everyone at Austin Macauley Publishers for being there, every step of the way.

Insomniac

I’ve paced back and forth

On countless nights

For years now

Why you ask?

Because I’m too sensitive I suppose

I listen to the unspoken screams of silence

Because they deserve to be heard

When I was a child, I struggled to sleep at night

Because I couldn’t stop thinking

But I didn’t mind

Because my insanity only fed my imagination

As I grew older, I hated myself for not sleeping more

I tried, oh I tried to sleep

But I never could

I wanted to cry

But I didn’t have any tears left,

But now time has passed

And now I’m OK

Because even though I still after years cannot sleep

It feeds my imagination

And it gives me an excuse

To convey this important message to you

Because after all – all the best people are crazy.

A Little Devil in Everyone

There’s a little devil in everyone

The saying, old as it is, is true nonetheless

In every beast, human, and perhaps even angels

Or perhaps there are good angels

And perhaps also evil angels

Just as are humans

Angels on Earth

And devils in the darkness

Or angels in the heart and mind

Or devils in the very same heart and mind

For the devil within me

Is a dark hurtful beast

My mind is a prison

Holding captive that same devil

My heart enclosed

Holding an angel close

Guarding my heart

From those harmful and cruel

Opening to love those kind and true

A devilish angel

An angelic devil

Is the creature that can be seen

In my reflection as mirrors never lie

Or perhaps even to the depths of my wounded soul

For now, I will be human as everyone perceives me

But only I know the angelic devil within.

Frankenstein’s Monster

A freak of nature is what I am

That’s how people perceive me

I am no monster

I am the son