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A covert cove in a wildlife refuge, Somesville, Maine, USA.. Painting acrylic on canvas, plein air
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covert glance in purse
answers on post-its stuck there
confused but crafty
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covert spot on shore
silence calms wild stormy thoughts
peace comes in silence
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diagnosis/silence
shame/tears/anger/remorse
withdrawal/friends near
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mental illness/shame
covert door to get treatment
eyes avert/not see
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*** The first haiku is a story a family member of a patient told me how their mother “crammed” for the dementia test when visiting their physician…she remembered enough to know the answers were important.
*** The second haiku prompted by the painting posted…it was in sight while I was trying to brainstorm what to write.
*** The third haiku is from thought of people getting a diagnosis of a disease or condition that someone was embarrassed about, including ones caused by smoking, eating disorders, neglecting their health warnings.
*** And the last, as I sat here, ready to post, I thought of the middle 1970’s when I was depressed and overwhelmed. Depression wasn’t talked of then as something acceptable, but due to weakness of character
and lack of “willpower”. Still new to the community, and ignorant of the social negatives, I found the mental health “center” in a house, on a discreet side street, and appointments arranged so people didn’t often meet their friends and neighbors coming and going. The waiting room downstairs, only a couple of chairs, and the appointments were in rooms upstairs. One day, coming in the door, at the foot of some stairs, I met someone coming down the stairs and they averted their eyes and scurried out the door. All these years,that moment is seared in my memory…my first awareness of “covert” disease.
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siggiofmaine 