State of Depression (A Furious Battle)
Created by George Presley
fighting what seems to be a never-ending battle.
Such adept fighters are my opponents.
by taking on what seems to me
to be the least to the most damaging;
in succession and hoping that I am strong enough in the end
to stand victorious.
facing them I realize
that this first battle holds just as much importance as my last.
Maybe even more, for a loss NOW, so soon,
and they become heroes,
and never again may the strength be mine to fight with.
but I disperse with him quickly,
for many times I have fought him and won—
and so shall I now.
I go down!
This first blow is so devastating.
Can I win? I must... I must win!
Then I remembered: Yes, a time when laughter filled my life.
More and more these memories flash before me.
I smiled!
but still they came at me.
I laughed out loud!
They became deaf, but still they came at me.
I felt joy!
They perished.
I face off...
He is invisible. No matter though, this should be an easy fight.
Quickly I run into the midst of the largest group of people I see.
I’m safe.
Why don’t these people help?
They offer no protection.
to find myself staring at my reflection
in a storefront display window,
and I see him... Loneliness, and he is me.
For they drill into my very soul.
I see my family, my friends.
I hear their voices; whispers of love and acceptance.
I feel warm all over.
Loneliness no longer there.
I am smiling and full of joy.
for towering over me is Pain;
a razor-sharp dagger in each hand.
for he is infuriated.
I have destroyed his kin and he wants revenge.
His every blow sinking deep within me—
but there is no blood; nor is there an escape.
The wounds are insufferable.
I can’t fight!
How?
I open my heart to him and he takes the bait.
thrusting not one, but both daggers deep within the core of my heart,
and I have him;
for neither will his daggers come free
nor can he lose his grip on their hilts.
I CAN fight, but how?
I must be careful so as not to release him to attack again.
What then?
I must control him.
I look within him,
trying to understand his existence—
and he weakens.
and he dissipates...
but within my heart I can carry his weight;
at least until he can teach me no more!
for there is yet one more battle to be fought...
...and there, not far off he stands...
TOMORROW!!!
George L. Presley, known to friends as “Bo,” is a 62-year-young artist whose spirit feels closer to twenty-seven. Living inside the prison system, he carries a rare optimism and an openhearted presence that infuses everything he creates. A lifelong reader, writer, and drawer, Bo approaches art the same way he approaches life: with curiosity, resilience, and a sense of humor that has carried him through every chapter.
Bo stays active in body and mind. When he is not sketching or writing, he is on the court or the field, playing pickleball, softball, handball, or soccer. Music is a constant companion. So is his faith. He speaks often of the Lord’s hand in his life and of his ongoing search for a deeper path, learning the difficult art of letting go.
Although he has been creating for years, this is the first time Bo has had a platform to share his work publicly. With the support of his friend and sponsor through Unconditional Freedom Project, he is stepping forward to offer his drawings and writings to anyone who might find warmth, connection, or inspiration in them. He hopes his work will touch hearts the way making it has touched his own.