For Katherine

The Therapist (poetic version of a brainstorm)
by Erin Lee

Narrative, Bowenian, solution-focused
Smiles creep inside (again)
And she has no idea where they come from
Is it the voices?
Is there a cheerful one?
Shut her up.
Yes.
Right.
Mmmm hmmm
Validate. Sympathize.
Axis two, borderline, bipolar
She remembers (everything)
Enter sigh

And she has no idea where it came from
Or where he went
Was it all a lie?
Is it locked somewhere inside?
Find him.
Yes.
Right.
Challenge. Strategize.
Axis one, major depression, addiction
High

And she knows exactly how to fix it
But can’t
He’d leave his children
Toss aside
(She’d never tell).
A couch waits
An appointment to keep
Asking her advice.
CSL, MRI, DBT, CBT
Tissues, if he cries.
“It’s not the weak who cry
But those who’ve been strong too long”
Hurting deep inside.

She smiles.
Knowing how to fix him
But knowing she can’t do his work for him
She’s free

To listen

To the voices.