Out of Mind

-Out of Mind-
by Keaton Foster



Crazy
Not a state of mind
But rather
An offense of perspective
Queer is there
Odd is the bomb
Madmen know
They understand
They have their thumb
On the pulse
Of all that is nuts
They see colors
Set askew
They see personalities
As ass backward calamities
They know what you don’t
What you refuse outright
They won’t take your crap
Nope, none of that
Try to sell them a lie
They’ll call you outright
Insanity it turns out
Is not so related to reality
But rather a state of affliction
Deeply mired within
A universe of unique perception
Out of mind
Wisdom enshrined
Built into the walls
Of every insane asylum
Regardless if they escape
Or are outright released
The cortex of their brain
Remains
Damaged to some
Improved others
When I was a child
They use to say
This boy is nuts
Crazy as batshit
Lock him away
Never let him see the day
Place him in a padded cell
Throw away the key
Then burn the place down
Kill or he will kill
Fools to imprison me
For what I might have done
Be assured I’m harmless
I would never hurt a soul
My mind may be damaged
But my heart is whole
I know, better than most
What is true and right
Morals and scruples
Are closely linked
Severe OCD it seems
Is a disease that scares some
My parents, the priest
Every social worker assigned
And the greater magistrate
Of the State of Maine
Back then OCD and I
Were sadly misunderstood
These days I’m understood
All too well
People close to me know
They recognize what I need
They see how I have taken
What once held me back
And made it a driving force
Sure I have my ticks
My well played out plans
I stick to them
Every detail is a God to me
A soother and relief
That I myself must feel
I have to know and understand
What it is that I am asking
And I have to see and feel
The answer for myself
I assume nothing
I only trust my own
Eyes and hands
I only believe in what
I myself can control
Out of mind
Not as bad as before
It’s my way of life
I deal the best that I can
There is nothing wrong with that
Nor has there ever been…


Out of Mind
Written by Keaton Foster Copyright © 2014.