I am a blind women waiting for a sign,
my body throbs with the scent of nicotine.
I cut off my senses and ignore
that I want things that I shouldn’t.
I push it away from my skin,
and warn “don’t come in if
you can’t control yourself.”
I separate my body from the urge-
because maybe then I’m not dependant.
I learn about Asperger’s syndrome
and help to nurse a young boy’s confidence.
For a window of time I think about nothing else-
I leave my ghost calling in the corridor;
because maybe I’m too busy to save myself.
I believe I can write myself again,
that a pen is all I need for resuscitation.
I only trespass into surgery;
to watch another person’s life
balance on the line of living and dead.
And stare down at my lined paper
my shaky hands don't know what to do.
And the fear of sinking into thick black ink,
isn't as real as watching him fight to control his own demons.
So we draw and he sketches his fears onto paper-
he writes the rules of Pythagorean’s theorem;
over and over until it is just words,
falling like memory into place.
And I forget all about my own doubts;
because me + him + a sheet of A4 paper
is the solution for us both today.
Comments
MistakenMagic | September 9, 2011 - 21:27
Really interesting and beautiful poem, Beeme. I was sucked right into the narrator's world- brilliant how you contrast the two characters. Very well done!
Magic xxx
Cavalcaderl | September 9, 2011 - 21:40
new Beeme
Yes, I too agree with what
MistakenMagic says. And the two characters
are well done! clever poem. I could feel so much in this.
julie xx.
Beeme | September 9, 2011 - 22:04
thankyou very much juile and magic i'm glad both characters worked well together and that you enjoyed this one. :)
marvin the pig | September 9, 2011 - 22:59
Pythagoras believed in the transmigration of souls and the sinfulness of eating beans. He wasn't all triangles. He didn't eat pig either, which is always good in my book.
I enjoyed your poem but was again disappointed at the lack of a pig hero. Pigs have feelings too.
Highhat | September 10, 2011 - 05:33
I also like the 2 different characters and how they melt together by way of the sheet of paper.
;)Pia
Beeme | September 10, 2011 - 09:31
Thanks Marvin, I don' eat pig either. I may have to consider a pig hero in my next piece. Glad you enjoyed though :)
Beeme xx
Beeme | September 10, 2011 - 09:40
Thank you Pia :)
Beeme xx
seashore | September 10, 2011 - 11:13
intelligent and beautiful
Beeme | September 10, 2011 - 14:55
Thank you very much seashore.
beeme xx
MaggieG | September 10, 2011 - 15:33
Trying to figure out how I missed this one. As I told Pesky, my son has his own strange little world, and occasionally I am allowed to play there. I like playing there :) And when he takes my hand and comes to play in mine ?
Even better :)
Get this, on ohhhh so many levels :)
Beeme | September 10, 2011 - 16:49
Thank you Maggice for reading and appreciating the meanings in this so much.
Beeme xx
Richard L. Prov... | September 11, 2011 - 02:44
Very well done, Beeme. You tackle a sensitive subject with poignancy and insight. Richard LP
Cavalcaderl | September 11, 2011 - 14:40
new Beeme
Completely agree with Richard L.Prov comment.
Well deserved cherries! seen now.
Have a good day.
julie xx
Blessing | September 28, 2011 - 18:33
Having heard you read this out loud, expressively, and now having had the time to read it - it is as beautiful as I first thought. Your writing has a fine, delicate and rare quality about it Beeme. When you said last evening that you write a lot about hospitals - well you bring some interesting aspects to that topic too. Well done.
Beeme | September 28, 2011 - 20:03
Thankyou very much Richard, Julie and Blessing. Glad you enjoyed my reading and my poem so much- it means alot.
Beeme xx