Bluish: A Poetic Sketch on Bipolar Depression

A poignant doggerel exploring the 'bluish' hues of bipolar depression, capturing the melancholic feeling of a mind that sinks with the drink. A personal and artistic reflection from a Bengali man in Calcutta.

7/24/2025

A melancholic, bluish-toned abstract drawing of a Bengali man's face

Sometimes a mood is best captured not in prose, but in the sparse lines of a poem. "Bluish" is a short doggerel that attempts to bottle the feeling of a depressive spiral, a common experience for those navigating the complexities of mental health, particularly bipolar disorder.

It’s bluish drab watercolor glue, A few drinks my mood sinks. I am just not feeling well today, Or whenever it’s me my mind thinks.

No! Too late to start anew I tell you, At fifty, I’m dead against always being shifty. I can sing no song, my songs are sung, My favorite vinyls, still gold, are hefty.

Like sewage circling down a dank drain, I drip downstairs on someone’s head. Annoying him forcing a look up and yell, Makes him stab his kid bloody instead.

Well don’t worry, I’m making it up, I’m a story too, sorry and uninteresting. No rhyme in a doggerel, no reason to think, My life feverishly & furiously depressing.

This piece reflects a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion—a snapshot of the internal monologue that can accompany a depressive episode.