Frantic

About this poem

"Frantic" vividly portrays the internal turmoil of someone grappling with an overwhelming mental struggle. The poem's intense imagery of being "Locked in my mind" like "an inescapable room" effectively conveys a sense of entrapment and despair. The repetition of phrases such as "try and try to scream and shout" only to have "silence come out" emphasizes the futility and frustration of the speaker's efforts to express their anguish. The poem progresses from a depiction of this futile struggle to a sense of resignation and acceptance of the madness taking over. The declaration "This is it" signals a turning point where the speaker acknowledges reaching a critical threshold—the "point where there is no way out." This admission marks the loss of control and the inevitability of change, culminating in the ominous warning, "You better run and hide. The old me is not here anymore." use of concise, stark language underscores the raw and unfiltered emotion of the speaker's experience. The poem captures the essence of a mental breakdown, providing a haunting glimpse into the speaker's psyche as they succumb to their internal chaos. more »