Mental Health in 85 Syllables

By Eisen Yoon

There seems to be a 
misunderstanding
I’m not supposed to be here

Trapped in this brain cage
behind bars of doubts and fears
shackled by shames past.

Where is there solace
from the beautiful struggle
as I drown in grief?

Quick to suffocate
in breath of anxiety
my words fall lifeless 

from my lips. My soul wanders 
lost in the inkwell
awaiting freedom.

Eisen Yoon is a poet and short story writer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he focuses much of his work around the Korean-American experience and is an advocate for Asian-American representation. He earned his B.A. in English from UCLA. He is an alum of Spoken Literature Arts Movement’s Cycle V workshop, taught by Matthew “Cuban” Hernandez and Alyesha Wise. A proud Bruin and Angeleno, he spends much of his free time hopelessly rooting for UCLA Football, the Dodgers, and the Lakers. #RIPKobe