Able to Stay

From What It Is by Lynda Barry:

There  ARE CERTAIN CHILDREN who are  TOLD they ARE TOO SENSITIVE, AND there  ARE CERTAIN ADULTS WHO believe SENSITIVITY IS a  PROBLEM THAT CAN be  FIXED in  THE WAY crooked  TEETH CAN be  FIXED AND made  STRAIGHT. AND WHEN THOSE TWO COME together  YOU GET A FAIRY TALE, A KIND OF STORY WITH HOPELESSNESS IN IT.

I believe  THERE IS SOMETHING IN THESE OLD stories  THAT DOES what  SINGING DOES to  WORDS. They have TRANSFORMATIONAL CAPABILITIES, in the  WAY MELODY CAN TRANSFORM MOOD.

THEY CAN'T TRANSLATE YOUR ACTUAL SITUATION, BUT THEY CAN TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERIENCE OF IT. WE DON'T CREATE A FANTASY WORLD TO ESCAPE REALITY, WE CREATE IT TO BE ABLE TO STAY. I believe  WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THIS, USED IMAGES TO STAND AND UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE INTOLERABLE.

IT SEEMS THAT HUMAN BEINGS everywhere  UNDERSTAND THAT A child  WHO IS NEVER ALLOWED TO PLAY will eventually GO MAD. BUT how do  WE KNOW THIS? AND WHY do  WE KNOW THIS? AND what  HAPPENS WHEN WE FORGET?