By Tohm Bakelas
sifting through madness
one thread at a time
I work with patients,
the maddest of the mad,
hospitalized since 1968 to now—
every year in between
and every year after—
these lifers
these chronics
they remained hospitalized
through deinstitutionalization
and watched as others
were released
these patients are the reason
this hospital exists
and as I walk amongst them
I feel safe here
I am King of the Mad
these patients don’t understand
credit cards
cell phones
or computers
they don’t know about
brita filters or self-check out
and I fight
every day
to keep them inside
this is their home
this is all they know
Tohm Bakelas is a social worker in a psychiatric hospital. He was born in New Jersey, resides there, and will die there. His poems have appeared in numerous journals, zines, and online publications.
Facebook: @Tohm Black
Instagram: @flexyourhead
