Chronic

Contemporary / Modern Poetry Human Written by Cassie Gander · Sep 11, 2026

“are you sick?”

no i like to sit here while your hair becomes blurry and i can’t concentrate over the pounding heartbeat in my head but maybe you mean because my face looks pale because i only put on concealer she always did say boys only like you when you’re pretty oh well i’m drowning listening to a teacher go on about how planes fly while im over here trying not to die from my invisible murderer although it doesn’t feel so invisible in my body ants ants ants crawling up my arms while my head is ticking fast like a clock and they still say i’m dehydrated her mom says to eat beef sticks my mom tells me to drink and the doctor says to not aggravate seizures i’m sure he’s only saying i have so the medical associations can profit off of a silent killer so yes. i am sick.

“do i look sick?”

About This Poem

Someone came up to me one day as I was having an episode and asked if I was sick. I felt so vulnerable and I denied that my sickness could be seen. I live undiagnosed and these are daily thoughts I have.

How did this poem make you feel?

Community Score

6.8

out of 10

4 votes

Optional AI-generated literary feedback.

Poem Analysis

This analysis is provided as optional literary feedback. Community voting remains the primary ranking method.

Analysis Available

The poem captures the chaotic inner world of someone grappling with a medical condition, using a stream-of-consciousness style to convey the overwhelming nature of their experience. It effectively combines personal narrative with societal observations, creating a visceral and disorienting emotional landscape.

Strengths

The poem's stream-of-consciousness style effectively conveys the speaker's mental and emotional chaos, particularly in lines like 'i can’t concentrate over the pounding heartbeat in my head'.
The use of sensory language, such as 'ants ants ants crawling up my arms', vividly illustrates the speaker's physical sensations.
The poem's candid tone and raw honesty, as seen in 'so yes. i am sick.', provide a powerful emotional punch.

Areas for Improvement

The lack of punctuation and traditional structure can make the poem difficult to follow, potentially alienating some readers.
Some imagery, like 'my head is ticking fast like a clock', while effective, can feel somewhat clichéd and might benefit from more originality.

Imagery

The poem employs vivid and unsettling imagery to convey the speaker's distress. The metaphor of 'ants ants ants crawling up my arms' effectively captures a sensation of discomfort and anxiety. The comparison of the speaker's head to a 'ticking fast like a clock' underscores the relentless pressure and urgency they feel. These images work together to create a visceral sense of the speaker's experience.

Structure

The poem is structured as a single, unbroken stream of consciousness, reflecting the relentless and overwhelming nature of the speaker's thoughts. The lack of punctuation mirrors the breathless, uncontrolled flow of their internal dialogue. This choice effectively immerses the reader in the speaker's chaotic mental state, though it may also hinder clarity.

Language & Craft

The diction is informal and conversational, enhancing the poem's intimate and personal tone. The repetition of words, such as 'ants ants ants', adds to the sense of urgency and panic. The poem's voice is authentic and raw, capturing the speaker's vulnerability and frustration. However, the lack of varied linguistic techniques may limit the poem's depth and complexity.

Emotional Impact

The poem's emotional impact is significant, as it immerses the reader in the speaker's distressing experience. The raw honesty and vivid imagery evoke empathy and a sense of urgency. However, the relentless pace and lack of structural breaks may overwhelm some readers, potentially diminishing the overall emotional resonance.