Prose In Therapy is a conclusion to the Prose In Views series published in Vol. 14 No. 2 (2019) of Ars Medica, a free Canadian online medical journal (see ars-medica.ca). Prose In Therapy is a convergence of free form poetics and imitated therapy. This work is meant to break down the formality of medical procedure through the use of atypical document format aesthetic. The intimate and thought provoking language used is accompanied by somewhat childish drawings that play on the somatic realities of mortality. Prose In Therapy addresses the delicate station of being a patient in mental health recovery while verging into themes of honesty, sexuality, and economic frustration. The cartoon drawings found on each page of Prose In Therapy were made in collaboration with local sketch artist Michael Vuong. These poems have all been read to audiences at Toronto open-mic events such as the local Shab-e She’r and Art Bar.

The poem “Life Reconsidered” was the last in the series and was written about the inception of the collection. Essentially, what happened was I slit the tendon on my thumb when a glass bowl broke under some hot water. I was doing dishes in my kitchen when it happened and had to bring myself to the hospital; I seriously considered bleeding out in the bathtub, somehow my better instincts kicked in and I went to get sutures.