Rae Rose Cancels an Appointment

By Rae Rose

Artist’s statement

I am as inconsistent as my sleep.

For people with bipolar disorder, sleep is often an ongoing battle, a ludicrous arrangement, a total crapshoot, and sometimes, ridiculous. More often, I’m crying. More often, I’m ashamed. Some days, I’m a total badass. Some days, I fee like I can’t show up to life.

Simple things become impossible. A lack of sleep affects our ability to work, which affects our ability to obtain health care, which affects our sleep …

Those living with disabilities, as well as friends of disabled people, neighbors/one night stands/Facebook pals/partiers/grocery clerks/loved ones/etc., should be wary of the changing of the guards.

We have to show up for each other.

Rae Rose’s most recent work appears in Jennifer Bartlett’s Hineni Magazine. She is Writers Resist’s poetry editor. You can visit her website at Yours Truly, Rae Rose.

Music is by Eliza Rickman.