Journey

About the Book

Eleventh Hour
Bouncing off walls,
a self-contained
directionless
rubber ball.
Feeling split
ripped apart
wanting everything
and nothing.
Black holes
try to swallow me
and I say let me wallow
in pain and self-doubt.
(I could be here on a
mission or as a fake
a simple, misfitted
contraceptive mistake).

Journey, a touching poetry collection, depicts a lifespan that shows the innermost thoughts and feelings of author Kathleen Phillips's battle with schizoaffective disorder-a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The poems included in Journey portray a unique voyage representing Phillips's reflections at different stages of her life. At times, there are verses written during the calm, balanced periods. At others, the poems show the volatile, explosive emotions of a mentally ill person.

Journey will instill hope and peace both in those living with a mental illness and in their loved ones. Draw comfort and strength from Phillips's words, and use them to help you through your own challenges.

About the Author

Kathleen Phillips began her struggle with mental illness at the age of fourteen. She earned a BA in English literature and began writing poetry. Phillips currently lives in California.