Ode to the Mentally Ill

Mental illness, hell, I’m (we’re) crazy, But there is a person here. I am (we are) taking medication Whose names make me (us) despair. Every day we are courageous. People need to know the scoop: We need housing, We need jobs, We need kind attention To be a member of a group. We’re not strangers and we’re lonely. Why don’t you want us around. We’re ignored and forgotten— No wonder our anger abounds. No one seems to want to help us With the services we need. Fifty million suffering persons Waiting for acceptance— One in four is in your family! (whisper: WOW!)