Involuntary Commitment | Literary Arts | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper

Involuntary Commitment

He heard voices:
Burn down the house.
Save your father from harm.

That's why he threatened
To kill his sister's cats,
Broke his mother's plates.

He would not
Take his medication.

His lawyer questioned
The doctor:
If someone thinks
He is in constant contact
With Jesus,
Does that mean
He must be mentally ill?

The psychiatrist laughed.
No. Just asking
To be saved.

-- Nancy Krzton

 

Nancy Krzton is an attorney who lives in Highland Park.  Her publications include 5 AM, the Along These Rivers anthology and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Many writers featured in Chapter & Verse are guests of Prosody, produced by Jan Beatty and Ellen Wadey. Prosody airs every Saturday morning on 90.5 FM. 

 

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A free celebration of printed art

By Mars Johnson