Eating Disorder Poetry
by Joanne Shipp
My name is Joanne Shipp and I live in England. I have suffered from an eating disorder of some sort for 22 years, starting with anorexia then bulimia and now I suffer from compulsive eating disorder. I love to write poetry and find it helpful in dealing with problems and emotions. I wrote this poem about how it feels to be an anorexic a while ago in the hope it would make anyone who reads it understand the torment felt by a sufferer. I do believe the last three lines of the poem and am still trying to live my life according to the words, but as anyone who has been a sufferer will be able to tell you, it is not easy, but I live in hope of living a full, happy and healthy live that is not ruled by body size or food. Thankyou for listening, I hope my poem helps someone .
ME
When did I lose me?
When did I lose faith in myself?
I became harsh and unkind to myself
I lost me somewhere along the way
Somewhere along this dark and winding path to hell I chose to take
But did I chose it?
I think not
I loved me once, once when I was young
I thought me fair and kind
I laughed then
Laughed out loud and even within
I was good to myself
I treated me well
So how did I lose me and why?
I laugh now too, smile and laugh, but not within
Gone is the spark in my soul
The light in my eyes
Gone is the fair maiden
I have lost me
Now I am frail, timid and small
Unkind to myself
Hurting within, screaming within
Help me, someone, help me
I have reached the end of the dark and winding path to hell and I am lonely
I want me back
The fair and kind one who laughed within
So be good to yourself, love yourself, be yourself and change for no one
For we are all roses that deserve to bloom.
