Dig Through the Darkness

By Traci Neal 

Nourish inner power. Reach farther

in the mind. Thinking is a thing

to be thickened. Shadows are shells.

They suffer sadness at certain times.

Depression dumped its lies on me.

I debated with death as a teenager,

but won wellness by choosing life.

I left bitterness alone, threw it away.

Open the door within. We heal

when we have hope. What we weep

turns into a web in our torsos.

Communicate and commune.

Support strangers or relatives,

friends, or runaways.

Dig through the darkness.

Fight to be a sanctuary. Sharing

the effects of suicide, stories

can stop losses, stop the lonely

from losing. Mental health hears

the Humpty Dumpty cracks.

Helpful tools help us learn

to listen. Love over, not under.

Win with and not apart.

Dig through the darkness.

Hug tighter. Hold the hurting.

Tell them, 

“You matter in this world."

Care for the bruised hearts.

Bandage wounds. Locate

the soul.

Dig through the darkness.

Speak bolder and louder.

Advocate and advance

the message.

There are lives

ready to be free. 

Traci Neal is a neurodivergent poet residing in Columbia, South Carolina. She has shared her personal story of being a late-diagnosed black woman in the Thinking Person's Guide To Autism, Newsweek, Good News Post- UK, and Autism Digest, to name a few. Her poetry is featured in Poetry Potion- Poem A Day, Spillwords Press, Autism Digest, and Spirit Fire Review in 2025. Neal utilizes poetry as a tool to advocate for those in need and to raise awareness for non-profits worldwide.