An exploration of the silent battle and feelings of seasonal depression 

As I watch the leaves fall

I watch my spirit fall

As I watch the weather get colder

I watch myself get older

Every year it’s the same

The days get shorter

People get colder

Part of me wants to cry

Part of me wants to shut down

That’s why I hate it

That’s why I want to skip past it 

Every.

Single.

Year.

But I can’t

I have to fight through it

Until I break into pieces

In my bed

Trying to pick myself up

Without anyone noticing

Anonymously submitted, this untitled poem compares the changes in weather to the changes in the speaker’s emotions. This could be an allegory for Seasonal Affective Disorder, a disorder in which someone may repeatedly experience depression during the same time of year. It’s cyclical, represented by the poet’s repeated phrases when describing their moods and the emphasis on the phrase “every single year.” It’s a frustrating endeavor made more agonizing by the fact that it can almost be predicted but not stopped. It’s a disorder that is common but not often taken seriously because of its “popularity.” It’s important to listen to and validate the experiences of those around us who have the courage to speak about them. As the weather gets colder, it is important to empathize with others as we never truly know what someone is going through.