The following poem “Corner Man” was written by Jason Varricchio and speaks to how I feel about men battling with their mental health and self-sabotage. Self sabotage can be the result of extreme criticism as a child and judgement by your elders, causing self-doubt and fear. It has led me to believing that I don’t deserve happiness or success.

CORNER MAN

There’s a man

Standing in the corner

Of an empty room

Doors locked 

And windows barred

Who is he? 

Why is he here? 

Do I know you?

I ask

He shrugs

Can I help?

He shakes his head

He mimics shadows

He’s there but not present 

I scream

What do you want?!

He whispers

You don’t want this

You don’t need this

Trust 

Me 

I whisper back

What is it? Tell me

He looks at me long

He looks at me with

Dead shark eyes

And says

You are not enough

You never will be.

***

Everyone has that inner voice. The one internal monologue we all have.

“Do I want chicken or steak for dinner?”  

“I really need to do laundry. Too lazy. That’s a problem for tomorrow me.”  

“Damn…she’s beautiful. Should I talk to her? What do I say??”  

​There are other voices sometimes though. They usually just whisper. Barely loud enough to hear. But sometimes they bubble their way to the surface, just loud enough for you to notice. To listen. They can be mean, and brutal. They know just where to poke and prod and stab. Because that voice, below all the layers, is still you. It knows your cerebral anatomy intimately. It can be a frightening thing. Made even more so because most people are afraid to talk about it. To talk about the other person in the corner of the room.

This poem was shared with permission and written by Jason Varricchio

Here are some other posts written by Andrés: “Rebuilding My Foundation” and “Andrés’ Flashback Friday & Masculinity”.

Andrés P.

I am first generation Afro Latino Canadian. First of my kind every time I walked into any room. I am rebuilding myself from the foundation up and started therapy to heal and break my cultural and family cycles. I am on a journey of healing and I hope to share it so others will know they are not alone anymore.