The combination of your poetry and the Dali are extremely moving. "both towards and away from that which unwinds them" is a mothlike flutter among the springs and gears and the reader can almost hear the tears of your voice. Beautiful, Chris.

...chris, i am wordy, you know that and so it's like the kid who yelled 'dike' price paid, eh? but i'll say something about this pome...it walloped me and i mean a good-wallopin' too, half way thru, i realized you started me one way and i's headed another and loving every minute of it...got me into a whirlwindfrenzy of 'time'...the slayer o' me! and i loved how you tagged it[time] good! chris, this is such a keeper, such a keeper..charlie

Deeply moving, an unsentimental description of depression (of whatever type), yet compassionate. Insight and empathy. May God not only keep you strong in helping your son but may your son continue to improve by His grace.

And as he learns to manuever through his difficulties, he'll see more and feel more to appreciate. Time is a funny thing anyway, and the geniuses of the world know that it's just a subjective boundary to help the rest of us deal with the progression of events. This is an interesting piece that twinkles with a certain clever wisdom...a very stimulating read!!!

As quietly amazing a metaphor as I've ever read here, Chris..my best to your son...may his time become precious as he emerges from darkness.

What I like most is that you have learned not to buy the watches and clocks so much of dealing with anothers illness is learning how to live with its impact on us and you have learned that poetry heals. What a gift to put you words to such and impactful painting and to see your son in the painting...my thoughts with you and yours through all you go through. smh

Taking the famous painting and tying it metaphorically to your son's illness is a brilliant stroke, Chris. Time definitely looks different to one in the throes of such a condition. I always thought Dali's works were a stone's throw from madness anyway. I agree with Charlie that the best line is "both towards and away from/ that which unwinds them...."

what is a healthy outlook? i don't know that's for sure, but it definitely has me thinking about time relation... i've never been able to make much sense of it myself...

Well said, Chris. Time is a versatile performer. It flies, marches on, heals all wounds, runs out, and will tell. Hoping most for healing here. Thanks.

May time heal the wounds....CharMin

powerful in its simplicity, yet your timepiece speaks volumes re. the complex turmoil underpinging. Thank you for sharing.

I have endured what this speaks of, and so - I understand it deeply. Powerful, Chris, how you have perfectly painted with your words - the buriedness of the Illness of Depression and its unrelenting episode of pain.

(Blessed remissions do come in-between the gusts sometimes. Hope and prayer and continuing love, as you know...)
Jill

The insight and empathy woven in this poem amaze me. Your son is a very lucky person to have you in his life. It sounds like you could be his metronome.

Well said indeed. As someone who has been bitterly depressed I applaud you. I wish I had this poem when the lights were out and when my own words seemed stuck.

I can't believe the similarities in our poems. I guess there's only one true way to describe madness and time. I really enjoyed this one. It's funny the Dali Clock i mentioned in my office, in the poem is the one you posted. It's chilling. Really good work though.

I love the melting clock dali image, that fits this poem so well. It is a sad day..I too understand mental health and the ways it can disable us. I often feel that even now there is a stigma. Depression is a lot like cancer...you just can't see it.

Very well done Chris. Time should always be an issue for each of us. I saw 4 original Dali paintings in the Tate art museum in London in about 1957 or 58. I was very impressed. Again good write.

Inspired piece of writing Chris.
'Time doesn't exist at all'--ironic in this context, where 'time' is of the essence.

I am adding this to my favorites. I'm glad it made it to the Top Ten so I was able to read this 6-year old poem. The sadness into the insight of your son's situation leaves me thinking of the trials of my teenage daughter, now 33, who tripped the light fantastic, only to fall from heights of drug induced euphoria, to fall into the abyss of deep depression. She is now on firm ground but I know her past still haunts her. Thank you for this!

It's brilliant.

*****STELLAR*****

Just read your poem "Killing Time". It is very moving to say the least. You work the time motif in like the precision of a pocket watch. It especially has meaning to me personally. When I was very sick in the hospital for nine months I was constantly watching the wall clock ticking my time away. When my wife came to visit she had to make me stop staring at tome and look at her. Even though I stared at the clock,time was meaningless for me. Excellent piece of work. Enjoyed it. Thanks.