On Illness
Erasure of Sigmund Freud’s “First Lecture” in Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis
Alt-text of this erasure poem:
novel bewildering
I find myself lecturing before
doubt I owe to my name
I intend to speak to you
a survey of
examination
it is being that is not mine I had
beginnings. I was final at the time
suffering Let us turn to
treatment set out in detail
without satisfaction
You have no
need to be afraid what I have
to say is true we go along with doctors
soon
illness
developed
rigid paralysis,
loss of sensation
movements disturbed
power subject to numerous restrictions
an aversion to taking nourishment
unable to drink tormenting thirst
reduced to the point of unable
Finally absence
n o person to which we turn our attention
symptoms will be inclined to think
you are illness,
probably small
heart shown
to be normal subjected to various
symptoms doctors
inclined to decide
an organic disease condition
illusory
They consider no risk to life
It is not easy
this organic illness. There is no need for us
it will suffice to have an assurance
of
a diagnosis
About the author
Jake Bailey is a schiZotypal experientialist and host of "Poetry and Pot." He has published or forthcoming work in Abstract Magazine, The American Journal of Poetry, Constellations, Diode Poetry Journal, Frontier Poetry, Guesthouse, Mid-American Review, Palette Poetry, PANK Magazine, Passages North, Storm Cellar, TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics, Tar River Poetry, and elsewhere. Jake received his MA from Northwest Missouri State University and his MFA from Antioch University, Los Angeles. He is a Best of the Net and Pushcart nominated poet who was a semifinalist for the George Bennett Fellowship. Jake is a former editor for Lunch Ticket, current reader for Grist, and lives in Illinois with his wife and their three dogs. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @SaintJakeowitz and at saintjakeowitz.xyz.