To those who understand

Cherry

By blighters rock

Sat, 27 Apr 2013
  • 2323 reads
12 comments
 

When a whistle sounds like a wailing baby
and rain in the car is a crash of white noise,
it’s time to wonder if I’m all there
and remember that I’m not.

When a harmless hum registers as a threat
and a sigh whispers shameless disgust
I know I’m well in its grasp
as it wades through me for another bout.

When a look in a café tells me I’m right
and that I know just what kind of person he is
I can only be sure of only one thing
that I see myself in him.

When a kiss between lovers is a knife to my heart
and a careless laugh makes for a callous cackle
I want the ground to open up
and take me on an even darker journey.

When an ambered glass looks less than poison
and I forget from where I came
I have to wander away like a machine
from people, friends, family, myself.
When I read poetry precision-engineered to relieve
and take nothing but a grinding headache to bed
those shadows on the ceiling hold me
as only nothingness can.

When a walk for tobacco is a pilgrimage
and I pray for winter on the first day of spring
when all that I’ve learned is scrambled and lost
and a wheeze makes me look over my shoulder
when intricate birdsong is a maudlin disturbance
and I can’t even smile at a backward dog
when a knock on my door is fear personified
and all I want is to lock myself away
I know it’s time to speak to those who understand
and share what I have found.

Certificate 15
Poem
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by littleditty on
I'm just off out on a pilgrimage for tobacco - the beautiful rollerbaglady in Camden Town does a big pack for a tenner -she understands, thank goodness for her! Thank goodness for being somewhat understood :)

 

Submitted by blighters rock on
Cheers Littleditty, a tenner's not bad but there's some hooky Chinese stuff on the market at the mo so make sure you read the signage and euro price. I'm about to give it up and getting set for patches, sprays and God knows what else to arrest my slow death. Happy days are ahead.

 

Submitted by scratch on
Blighters, this is the best thing of yours that I have read in ages. It really, really works. I'm not going to break it down mate and say why I think that it is so good. I'm just going to leave it at that. Save to say that there are flashes (lots) of the Richard Penney brilliance here. Superb.

 

Submitted by blighters rock on
Cheers Scratch. I've been so inactive on the site lately (months) and it's time I started looking at others' work and putting my ten'orth in. I don't know about flashes of brilliance but it's better than nought.

 

Submitted by VeraClark on
Am left breathless. Absolutely seamless. I have read this three times aloud. Every line is essential and you turn language on its head. Marvellous.

 

Submitted by blighters rock on
Wow, thanks Vera.

 

Submitted by Syphon on
Awesome write Blighters, well deserving of the cherries. Cheers S

Submitted by maggyvaneijk on
Stunning Richard, really melodic, I can read it over and over again.

 

Submitted by blighters rock on
Belated thanks to Syphon and good to hear from you too, Maggy. Wishing you both well on this glorious English day.

 

Submitted by Cavalcader on
new blighters rock Hi! Richard Well deserved cherries! This is a little gem! So much in this, and so much truth of life,but so well written. So didn't answer,week of my back! computer stalling. Keep writing. julie x

Submitted by blighters rock on
Hi Julie, Always good to hear from you and glad this hit the spot. Hope you're keeping well and say hi to Ray for me. Richard x

 

Submitted by Cavalcader on
new blighters rock Hi! Didn't answer sorry ! computer then went wrong. Now still keeps coming up Dupral can't use. Bloody! thing just lost all typed to you,2nd time! Was it me or computer. Mainly my back Ray,now and lng walk me,British Red Cross,moved,5 asked didn't know. Pulled trolley and walked get him crutches,as can;t get on bus low seats,and how Ray whatever in life,happens never there for me,shame. But laughed eventually crossing roads and watch out cycle lane,get bloody,crutches,walking back long long way,way past Hove Park,dangerous roads off of British Red Cross,laughing as load traffic,seems be watching me,with pair of crutches in trolley,and I am walking. Can't please him in anything,never do say anything right,couldn't lift,heavy,now managing bit,crutch. Hove had a man off a moped I said,involved Helicopter ambulance and all,at Tescos wow! helicopter. The Fringe doing slot for poems, and stories,might see if can get in,get out fresh air. Daughter brought moved further away,home made lemon cake lovely,and spaghetti bolenase,so messy staining bowl. He watched bowls I went cafe! cake a coffe,take pulling trolley,before his back went,didn't see needed help called. Lady asked help me carried it. Done all for him,not there me most time,ever anytime needed,fall or whatever life hands me. Bowls snooker and his way? This is 2nd time briefing this to you! Did submit,cancelled out! So off bed early! Younger than me,never mattered but if you only knew now be so sorry! as abcTales says all have a story tell! Hope your well,my important email seem gone through,no replies,says message sent give up! Block flats b/ton in paper,got no t.v work,think need adaptor,paper states,get out on roof think! pensioners world is bonkers,no care now. Quite a few elderly struggle alone. That I know! Care is not like in our days,and had to muck in do all. Give Ray your best wishes,calling for Argus,computer went back to Dupral,cancelled what typed to you. Hope all is well for you. So glad got cherries! My last poem tried write is all true! how day approached and all things mentioned. So much changing around here! I didn't ask for help,so walked few ,miles Ray says not,can't do much right! bossy hell! Daughter's birthday monday. Difficult choose! take care! got go. julie x