“Was it really only last Tuesday
when you phoned? It seems
much longer ago than that.
I so look forward to your call;
lonely as it becomes; no one
to talk to...with your mother gone.
God rest her soul.”
Off he goes again like a well-worn LP;
you tell him to find a hobby - that life
goes on. You feel sorry for him,
but enough is enough.
So you lie through your teeth. Say,
“Got to go, Dad; someone’s at the door.
Must dash. Catch you soon...as ever,
as always. You take care now.
Oh, and everyone sends their love.”
And after, there’s that deathly hush...
sends your senses into overdrive;
bores holes in your eardrums.
Everything’s amplified; you can even
hear the hum from the freezer
in the basement. Something you’d
never realised before...
And the clock outside in the hall,
did it always tick this loudly?
A mouse scratches in the wainscot –
the cat breathes heavy in its sleep;
a floorboard creaks...
The kids, home from school, descend
like a pack of hungry wolves; silence
beats a hasty retreat.
You ought to do a redial – check
he’s OK. Not right now, of course;
too much on. But you will...
same time next week.
Comments
Kahdai | July 2, 2010 - 11:21
Everything amplified, know the feeling Tina, like this poem :) K xx
threeleafshamrock | July 2, 2010 - 11:43
Guilt, empathy, sympathy....Love sometimes becomes a chore that later can become regrets; an arc in the wheel of life but it's only part of the circle.
Nice write, as usual Tina. Looking forward to spending more time back here; missing the quality of writes like this.
Chris XXXX
Silver Spun Sand | July 2, 2010 - 12:49
Thanks, Kahdai. I think a lot of us will recognise this feeling;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 2, 2010 - 12:53
You do so have a way with words, Chris, as I think I have told you many times before;-)
The poem in a nutshell!
Nice of you to pop in. I have missed you, and thanks;-) Hope things are OK.
Tina XXX
MistakenMagic | July 2, 2010 - 14:29
Love the use of the senses in this one Tina - I can hear all the noises you describe perfectly and they work so well to build the poem's tension. You describe the sneaking guilty beautifully - well done ;)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | July 2, 2010 - 18:08
Thanks for that, Magic.
Pleased it spoke to you;-)
Hope you manage to have a relaxing weekend.
Tina xxx
scrapps | July 4, 2010 - 00:58
Love the line--like a well worn LP--and when I was reading it--it felt like a song--like a forgotten love song--I had the beatles going through my head--I guess what I am saying is I like your flow--
Silver Spun Sand | July 4, 2010 - 07:50
Thanks so much for reading, scrapps, and for leaving such a positive comment. Glad you enjoyed;-)
Tina
Beeme | July 8, 2010 - 21:35
This is one of my favourites of yours tina. I love the honesty and warmth which is evident in this poem. The narrator is so human you capture the conflicting emotions so well. As you said life has a way of sometimes getting in the way. I enjoyed greatly. Beeme xx
Silver Spun Sand | July 9, 2010 - 13:33
Beeme - so pleased you picked up on all that was written here, some of it between the lines; but then you always do;-)
Thank you.
Tina xx
kheldar | July 10, 2010 - 20:12
Hi Tina,
You take a situation that many of us may be familiar with and with your words you capture it in a crystal relief. The emotions are given a depth and clarity, preserved in the moment. The initial playing on the emotions by the old man, the tired and worn down reaction of the daughter, the guilt, the realisation that assuaging the guilt by phoning back is playing into his hands, the resigning herself to next week's ritual. You capture it all.
Brilliant stuff.
David xx
Silver Spun Sand | July 11, 2010 - 07:55
...And so you have captured the essence of this poem with your words. You are a master of your craft, David, and no mistake.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for telling me.
Tina xx
Yutka | October 21, 2010 - 21:41
love your poem, recognized emotions....it always comes too late "if only...."
Yutka
Silver Spun Sand | October 22, 2010 - 07:26
Good to hear from you, Yutka.
Thanks so much for reading this one, and for your words which certainly encapsulate the essence of this poem.
Tina
CelenaGaia | May 5, 2012 - 17:06
God, another one so many can relate to. The subtle poignancy of this makes the heart throb (well it did mine.) Painful really, but beautiful to read.
Silver Spun Sand | May 5, 2012 - 18:31
Hey - thanks for digging this one out, Celena. Much obliged to you for letting it see the light of day again. So pleased you enjoyed and that it hit a chord for you.
Tina