The Liars Club
Lit
Art at the Speed of Life
From Lit, by Mary Karr
"Being who you are
is not a disorder.
Being unloved is
not a psychiatric
disorder.
I can't find being
born in the
diagnostic
manual.
I can't find being
born to a mother
incapable of
touching you.
I can't find being
born on the shock
treatment table.
Being offered
affection
unqualified safety
and respect when
and only when
you score pot for
your father is not
a diagnosis.
Putting your head
down and crying
your way through
elementary school
is not a mental
illness..."
- Franz Wright,
"Pediatric Suicide"
