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I woke up from my MADNESS.
by Ashok Sharda
I woke up from my madness
One day. To realize
To my surprise
That I was in a MADHOUSE
Inside a madhouse.
I asked a SOMEBODY
Not unlike me
As to why were we
In the inside of the insides of the madhouse
While all the mads of the world
Were without.
He laughed
And quipped quizzically
If you are in, within,
You ought to know
The reality of without
His words lead me to
Yet another realization
I can be liberated
If I can learn to live to their madness
After all
What is common is NORMAL
In this madhouse.
So I decided to ACT common.
I am here now, my friends
In the without
One among all the mads of the world
In this big MADHOUSE
Safe and secure
From the modern day gadgetry
Of the shocks and surprises.
03/31/2003 Author's Note: �shocks and surprises� is replaceable by psychiatry.
Posted on 03/31/2003
Copyright © 2025 Ashok Sharda
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Anne Engelen on 03/31/03 at 01:23 PM Dang...not sure I really want to adapt to that. I have severe doubts ! Great read though. |
| Posted by JD Clay on 03/31/03 at 01:50 PM Relative poetry, Ashok. The key to understanding is in your fifth stanza. Adapting to life in this maddening cockoo's nest. Very insightful, my erudite friend.
Peace... |
| Posted by Kate Demeree on 03/31/03 at 03:07 PM There are many interesting twists and turns to this..... *softest smile*.... and one mans madness is anothers sanity, who after all is to judge normal? I like this Ashok, but then.... I think you are not surprised. |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 03/31/03 at 08:24 PM Your work just keeps getting better and better Ashok. Love how you turn the inside out and the outside in with this one. I feel more secure in knowing I share the madhouse with one so sane. |
| Posted by Betania Tesch on 04/01/03 at 01:36 AM I've gone mad mad mad.... |
| Posted by Betania Tesch on 04/01/03 at 01:36 AM I've gone mad mad mad.... |
| Posted by Agnes Eva on 04/01/03 at 03:56 AM Hah. And at the end, on my third read through, I realize a possible modern day level to this poem, for this world has become rather a madhouse today, the 'shock and awe' campaign (on the psyche of the attacked) is being presented with a purpose equivalent to the 'shock and surprise' (electroshock) therapy method of healing in a madhouse. on the other (non-political) level of your poem, it is key that what enabled departure from the madhouse was mere awareness of one reality over another and a CHOICE to align with one, which is very interesting from a psychiatric standpoint. |
| Posted by Karen Koser on 04/02/03 at 08:53 PM Wow. I very much like your poetry. It's refreshingly unique and I'm glad for the opportunity to read it! |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 04/05/03 at 01:53 AM Lots of room for interpretation in this vivid imagery and analogy! |
| Posted by Siri Lipscomb on 10/20/03 at 10:26 PM Your work is so provocative. I see that you see yourself with clarity and courage. Very nice piece.. |
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