Journal of Sacred Work

Among the most extraordinary caregivers are mental health professionals who deal with those among us afflicted with schizophrenia. In some ways, it is hard for the rest of us to appreciate the searing pain of hearing disembodied voices – especially when those voices appear as demons that threaten. Caregiver meditations call us to share the pain of others by seeking to understand, and by being in touch with our own voices…

Balcony Woman

The schizophrenic perched in the church

balcony shouts, “There are voices coming

from my vagina!” The fellow next to me

says, “Maybe we should investigate” &

laughs hard while the

minister continues as if the woman is

sitting silent like the rest of us; as if we heard

no voices screaming through us the way

wind-driven ice clatters the bones

of a ruined house.

Some part of the wind

wails to me to rush to the balcony to comfort

the woman, or have her comfort me

so that I won’t cry out my own voices in front

of everyone.