Pen's On Fire

<p>Soon after my incarceration at San Quentin prison for a capital offense I was diagnosed as suffering from bipolar and borderline personality disorder. Later I was also diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. After being told this news instead of rejecting this analysis I decided to embrace my mental illness and do all I could to become aware of how important mental wellness is for me and for others too. This decision resulted in my confronting many of my past behaviors.</p><p></p><p>One day while doing some writing exercises in prison I began to notice some of the works I had written and I thought to myself Cliff man your pen is on fire like it has flames shooting off the paper! It was at this moment that I decided not to shy away from my mental illness but embrace it in a creative direction and I started collecting my poems for possible publication. Looking over the wide range of poetry. I chose to title my work Pens on Fire: The Multiple Personalities of a Poet. Realizing that society often views mental illness as a stigma. I began to believe that I could use my experiences to help others like me. Through my poetry I could reach out to those who are or will be identified as mentally ill.</p><p></p><p>I now spent half of my twenty-eight-year on death row at San Quentin in the prison's mental health program and have learned so much about my well-being. I want people who are hurting those who have been labeled different or anyone who needs encouragement to seek help. By the grace of God I trust these poems will bring you healing comfort and inspiration!</p>