I was quite struck with Jung quote you began with. It is so true. If the apothecary has not at least tasted the poison, he will not know the taste of the antidote either. But be wary of the soul who only knows the poison.

Now onto your poem ...

Literature can be the antidote to a life too painful or often simply too uneventful to be borne on its own. I was once grounded for what felt like a very long time. I was allowed to go to school and come home and read. In the end, my 'imprisonment' was a great gift. The writer begins as a reader. There is no other way and with a strong creative mind, antidotes are plentiful and always at my fingertips. One gets a sense of the narrative of this life and that is just a step away from being philosophical about the whole thing.

waters to engage you
distract you, keep you
from crossing to the other shore

Beautiful, effective and well-developed imagery in your poem today. Excellent work:)