,

Drowning in Deadlines

White, David. Time Crunch. August 20, 2024. Dave White Illustrations.

I feel as if I am drowning in
Deadlines
&
Promises.
My red eyes, raw and weary, never rest.

I am burdened by the weight of
Time
&
Commitment.
My determination is slipping from my grasp.

Does my youth excuse my mistakes?

Surrounded by voices whispering all day and night.
Telling me, I have never made them proud.
Suffocating in the silent, unspoken disappointment in their eyes.

It’s depressing, don’t you think?
These feelings of anger and hurt are astounding.
Washing over me in overwhelming relentless tides.
The pain locking me in with a paralyzing ache.

I feel as if though I am drowning in
Deadlines
&
Promises.
The work, endless, pulls me deeper.

I wander through the darkness,
Seeking, hoping – yet unsure what for.
Perhaps a moment of peace, or a glimpse of pride,
A reminder that midst this chaos, I’m alive

Written by Kiana Jimenez · Illustration by David White

Jimenez, Kiana. “Drowning in Deadlines.” Poetic Bipolar Mind: Unraveling Life’s Threads Through Art and Words, 2024, p. 23.


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