Black Dog Days

Author: Gregory John O'Flaherty
Word Count: 194
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Black Dog Days

To have a Black Dog on your back is Aussie slang for being depressed.
Depression is not an illness it is a natural reaction to the shit of life. If it gets to the point that it is affecting your being and life, see a good doctor. There are better therapies than anti-depresants.

The most depressing thing to happen in Victoria after the Kennet government lost to labor, was to have Jeffery (F…ing) Kennet appointed to head Beyond Blue, a Depression awareness organisation … how depressing..

Dedicated to all those on RedBubble who have Black Dog Days.

Black Dog Days belongs to the following groups:

All Out Emotion, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Anger Management, Anticonsumerism, Art & Dis(ease), ART ACTION UNION - CREATIVE ACTIVISM, Bits and Pieces , Current Issues, Dark artists, dark art, Outsiders, Safe Haven, Secondary Hell, The Art of Pain, The Healing Journey, Up & Coming Writers, Verses Dark and WMG

I slept the afternoon away today
Just to escape the thought of it all
The Black Dog on my back had all the say
Making all my defenses just fall

All the remorse of those yesterdays
That come back to haunt me still
The Black Dog sure wants me to pay
Barking in my ear until I had my fill

Nagging thought of regret and woe
Memories I had long left to the past
The Black Dog seems my eternal foe
And its’ hounding will always last

Why will it not let things just rest
Redemption is just a dream now lost
The Black Dog keeps coming back the pest
The moment, now, is its wanted cost

I must learn to regain myself
And let go of the depressing things gone by
The Black Dog is eating away at my health
Filling my head with all of its lie

Nothing I do can change the past
But it is their that I must let it rest
The Black Dog will then not be able to last
Allowing me to give this moment the best.

17.26 24th September 2009 AustEST
Copyright Gregory John O’Flaherty

raymondoantonio

DEPRESSION IS A VERY REAL WEIGHT ON THE SOUL!! POWERFUL WRITING GREGORY!!!!
raymondoantonio

I AGREE ON YOUR COM ABOUT THAT FUCK-HEAD FASCIST KENNET!!! LOATHE THE MAN!!!!
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Raymondo, for both comments …...... I don’t know anyone who liked JFK
BiographyofRed8

brilliant poem my friend, i often try to slip the black dog reference into my work, but no one really gets it. I found out about the expression from a book someone gave me on depression. I know the irony, god, how depressed were all Victorians to have him as a Premier. (hahaha, actually its funny the way you say it)..

I totally understand as I often get visits from the black dog, I take him out for walks in the sunshine and the sun seems to help!!
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Red. I agree about the sunshine, it is essential for happiness !!
Shoaib .

brilliant piece mate… we all have days like this
thanks for this piece
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Shoaib, appreciated, glad you liked it !!
TheWanderingBoo

deep, dark powerful writing…
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Boo, always appreciate your comments and support !!
jillijude1

stunning thank you
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks jillijude :-)
Trenchtownrock

This is very strong write…the power of that damn dog that just sits there becoming overpowering..you captured this very well.
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks trenchtownrock …. I think the dog gets us all some days !!
Ty Beach

thank you…. reaction, regret, redemption….
Gregory John O... replied

:-) You inspire me !!!
autumnwind

Hoping your black dog days are few and far between. Awesome write and who cannot relate. So well written. xoxoxo
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Autumnwind …... I have my days …. this came from a chat with another RB poet about her darkness… xoxox
Kristin Reynolds

Wow. We must be on the same wavelength, man, as I just posted my depression/black dog/mad piece. I have been there, and it is soul-sucking. awesome piece…K xo :)
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks kristin . I hope yours aren’t as dark as some of mine have been
Tom Broderick IPA

as always greg great work. tom
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Tom , appreciated !!!!
erich biemer

nice exposition of a universal…....
Gregory John O... replied

Thanks Erich, i think most people can relate to this theme ….
Elizium

This reminds me of a beautiful song by Nick Drake

Once again an insightful and thoughtful piece of work…

...and Congratulations

Elizium x
Gregory John O... replied

:-) Thanks Elizium, appreciated, and humbled !!!