Thank you for your comment!  I'm rereading and you're right the fourth stanza seems to fit less into the scheme of the rest of the neither good not bad just is theme.  Perhaps I should take that stanza out and explore it in another poem sometime.  I'll leave it in for now and see if anybody else has something to say about it but I think you're right...Worth more exploration.

And yes your interpretation is correct.  I'm saying I wouldn't be who I am without bipolar but it still freaking sucks.

I like this poem a lot! Particularly the line "I would have a complicated choice". Now, maybe I understand wrong, but I understand you to mean that you identify so closely with your health problems that they seem to be a part of you, and are unsure you would still be "you" if you got rid of them. Am I correct in my analysis? It seems there's enough meaning in that single line to justify an entire poem itself. 

Also, upon re-reading, I noticed that every stanza is juxtaposed in some way, as well as the title. With the exception of the 4th stanza, is there a reason for that? or am I missing some juxtaposition? 

The ending line is very strong. Overall this poem makes clear your view of your health problems, but also makes clear, perhaps indirectly, your view of yourself; you are not somebody who needs fixed, this is who you are. (but I dont want to put words in your mouth, haha).

Great poem :)

I hadn't thought of metaphor no other than the image of the cross.  I don't tend to use too many metaphors in my poetry but they are a tool I probably should use!  I'll think about how I could incorporate that.  It might take a bit of time since I have to make it play nice with my rhymes and meter.  I'll be critiquing yours shortly.  If you need pointers on how to critique read the first pinned post on this sub.  It has greatly helped me.

Eloquently written. I can relate to this poem deeply as I am an adult with severe ADHD. I find this piece to fill me with something familiar. I have never provided feedback to poetry before so I hope this isn’t complete nonsense. Have you ever thought about bringing in metaphorical themes that are relative to the subject matter in your poem? Thank you for sharing your beautiful words.

Disability is not my cross.

Nor is it a blessing in disguise.

It comes with its fair share of pain and loss.

To speak to this will be my only prize.

--



Believe me when I say it's not a sham.

I could never fake this easily.

Bipolar is a part of who I am

But it is not my sole identity.

--


Mania is like my wild card.

Depression drives me down especially.

Psychosis is particularly hard

when everything is meaningful to me.




--


If I could simply make it go away

I would have a complicated choice.

It's something that I live with every day

Without it I'm not sure I'd have my voice.

--



Do not pity what you do not know

Nor lionize me for my bravery.

Hopefully in writing this I'll show

that all I want to be is simply me.


https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/910y0n/comment/e2uplrn


https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/90z05n/comment/e2ue6lr






Neither cross, nor blessing