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typhoon season



here in Manila it’s been raining

for 5 days--I think


I’ve lost

track because all the days

are the same


it’s typhoon season,

+ I’ve been caught

in it


I’ve been caught

in a typhoon for a year--since the panic

first attacked


bolting

from the lightning

+ thunder that chase

me through city streets


chilled

down to my soul from

sheets of rain


unable to see anyone else

because I’m always

running


looking

down

with fear in every step


avoiding

all of the flooded

streets + puddles

that will swallow

me whole


it’s been a year


a year of 5 different medications

(+ still waiting for the right ones)


a year of 2 therapists


a year of struggling

to hear God through the thunder


a year of so many panic attacks

that I stopped

keeping track


a year of nightmares--even in

my nightmares, the panic still

finds

me


the wicked

world my mind molds starts

to spin


the panic feeds

on me like a festering

parasite + sucks

the life out

of my lungs


I start to pass out


that’s the moment when

I always wake

up


last night, the nightmare that woke

me had my dad + dog

almost die together

in front of me


+ instead of going

to save them, the panic

got me first


so I crawled

over to my

husband who held

me after my nightmare

yet again


whether I’m awake or asleep,

it doesn’t matter


I can’t escape


but yet, in the back

of my mind, I know

from 3 years of living

here that typhoon season is

just that


a season


it always comes

to an end


the last typhoon

of the season will

blow away


+ the months of November

through February will be

gorgeous


with a little sea breeze as

this island country cools

off over the holidays


for once I will stop

running--the thunder + lightning

won’t be chasing

me anymore


I will breathe

the air freely--air

that is for me

+ me alone


I will pray

to God without

thunder thrashing

my thoughts


my husband will hold

me in the middle of the night

just because he wants to, not

because I am afraid


I’ll find medications

that fix the chemical imbalances

in my brain + learn skills in therapy


the panic attacks will be easy

to count because they’ll be

so few


I’ll see people again + really want to


+ finally,

the chill in my soul will be warmed

with the weather from March through May:

the sunshine months,

making us all forget

for a while that typhoon season

even exists




* This poem was written upon reflection of having my first panic attack, 1 year ago today*


4 Comments


Dennis Hogrefe
Dennis Hogrefe
Jul 25, 2021

Mallory We Love You and pray for You each day!! God has a great plan for You and Your talent in writing and expressing Your is a blessing to many friends and family!! Father Hogue!!

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Mallory Bjork
Mallory Bjork
Jul 26, 2021
Replying to

Thank you, Grandpa!! Your support is so meaningful ❤️

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Julie Bjork
Julie Bjork
Jul 25, 2021

What a wise, introspective piece that shines light on the seasons/struggles we endure this side of heaven... Always keep holding on to Jesus... Hoping I can hold you again soon as well... ❤️🙏

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Mallory Bjork
Mallory Bjork
Jul 26, 2021
Replying to

Thank you so much, Mom!! I love you and miss you so much ❤️

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Hi, thanks for stopping by!

Through mental and spiritual lows this year, I've been on a journey to pursue prayer and peace in my daily life.  That's what this blog is all about.

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