I was discussing with someone randomly the irony and sadness of the fact that Phyllis Hyman had an album entitled “Prime of My Life” and unfortunately committed suicide in said prime. If you are not familiar with Phyllis Hyman or her music, click here to get a brief synopsis. After that get familiar with a voice that I dare you to try to describe. My poem below is inspired by her life and struggles, because a lot of it is parallel to some things I have gone through in the past.
irony.
potential
is just shit I haven’t done yet
and probably won’t
maybe i was born
catalyst resistant
unhappily consistent
self loathingly persistent
and here I sit
in my alleged prime
just a number
where i can only be divided by myself evenly
your words
your praises
seem to only leave remainders of dashed dreams
and futile hoping
leaving me living all alone
in this crowded space.
depression has a strange sense of humor that way.
except i’m not laughing.
A Phyllis Hyman video for you to enjoy…
[originally posted 9-23-10]
