Sherman Alexie

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The Land of Drought

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The Land of Drought

a poem about bipolar disorder

Sherman Alexie
Feb 1
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The Land of Drought

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After my second bipolar collapse, 
I traveled to the high desert
for residential treatment. One night, stoned
on sedatives, I watched three deer
walk so close that I could've touched them.

Ten years earlier, after my first
bipolar collapse, I traveled to the low
desert for residential treatment. One day,  
stoned on sedatives, I watched a tarantula 
chase a lizard up a drain pipe.

The desert might be austere
but the bipolar mind is verdant
with beauty and fear. I think
the tarantula and lizard were real
but I'm almost positive
that I imagined the deer.

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The Land of Drought

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Jeff Hartzer
Writes Jeff Hartzer's Official Substack
Feb 7Liked by Sherman Alexie

Had those blue tonged deer kissed you, you would have known then of their reality.

Such a strong and truly magical poem about a sadly surreal disorder that you have found a touch of order in from time to time. Bravo all 'round.

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Calvinball
Feb 6Liked by Sherman Alexie

Like all decent people, I was taught never to find humor in someone else's afflictions, so I make this comment after what I hope is a respectful delay and with some trepidation. But Sherman, I live in the "low desert", and there are far more tarantulas and lizards around my neighborhood than there are drain pipes or downspouts. So maybe consider if the latter was the more likely hallucination?

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