It wasn't that she was not used
to faceless alleys, clinically clean
or disgustingly dirty - just as life can get
and it wasn't that she was not used
to fight her way along the gangways
of some nightmares, side by side
with people she had met along the way
She shakes her head and pauses,
measures life in thirty minute slips
and they feel easy in the pockets of
her dressing gown
What really bothers her
is the lost art of rolling down these aisles
and make them smell like summer lawns
Remembering the scent
when flowers fell to dust in curly
hair, wrapping her nights with
deep blue summer groove - she sighs
Today, it's drugs and wheelchairs
standing in her way -
another thirty minute slip
She smiles a bit and turns her head,
wrinkles her nose and for a moment
she feels lightweight,
leaned against the wind, her world
getting green again
This poem is my response to the One Shoot Sunday Challenge. The above photo was shot by Canadian photographer Greg Laychak. Check out the interview over at One Stop and I can highly recommend to jump over to Greg's website to see more of his fantastic photography.
28 Comments:
:) Stand Up! hehehe
What's brought to mind is that combination of smells so common in nursing homes - antiseptic, floor cleaners, and often illness. And yet - there is the smell of the "lightweight" and the "green." Good poem, Claudia.
A beautiful poem that begins with an excellent title. Often I think such 30 minute slips may encompass eternity for some, so when you write, "measures life in thirty minute slips" it carries heavy meaning in the light of dementia. Great details too.
Yes, it does come down to time in measures for the world's workers. Where do thoughts take us as we snip up time in segments and later roll along to the smells of lysol and alcohol scrubbed hallways. Well written Claudia and it captures the image.
Gay
Oh, that was excellent!
the idea of thirty minute slips just fitting in her pocket is evocative and suggestive of the way life must be lived as time goes by and the world just gets quicker and quicker
I quite enjoyed this piece. It really captured the prompt. Nicely done ~ Rose
really nicely done claudia...having worked in those homes in the past you capture the scene well...the little slips you mention...i like the turn to a bit of hope there in the end....
Claudia. Claudia! How do you do this? It is simply "Out of this world" and yet, "IN this world"...and with such knowledge and compassion you give us that message--of how it is, with some...and how it will be--with others.
(I just hope there is a computer attached to me wheelchair--BIG GRIN!)
PEACE!
Wonderful!
You brought hope to a prompt utterly without light for me, on this Easter, and as a veteran of a nursing home. This is a masterpiece; I think your best of those I've read so far, Claudia. I especially loved:
Remembering the scent
when flowers fell to dust in curly
hair, wrapping her nights with
deep blue summer groove - she sighs
Today, it's drugs and wheelchairs
standing in her way -
another thirty minute slip
She smiles a bit and turns her head,
wrinkles her nose and for a moment
she feels lightweight,
leaned against the wind, her world
getting green again
Well said in all ways, Claudia, and also beautifully said. This was a difficult prompt to get to the heart of, but you've done that here. The end is perfect.
This is beautiful, Claudia!
Important questions about the quality of life medicine is giving us
Hi! Claudia...
Just like Brian's poem your poetry is very thought-provoking and reflective too!
The words...Your words truly compliment the photograph and the mindset Of an elderly person reflection of the past intertwined with the present.
Thanks, for sharing the links too!
DeeDee ;-)
I loved you poem Claudia...for all the reasons that everybody else has mentioned, but most of all for the ending.
Cheers
Padmavani
absolutely fabulous! I feel as though I know her now and want to pay her a visit. The smells weaved in there really underlined the piece.
i'm amazed at the bit of music I gleaned from this piece.. some wonderful images, too, my favorite,
measures life in thirty minute slips
and they feel easy in the pockets of
her dressing gown
..such a wonderfully original take on a tough subject ~
the ending...her world getting green again...always another season to find life and renewal again....lovely..bkm
...liebe Claudia, auch heikle Themen füllst du mit Poesie...
30 Minuten, was ist das im Meer der Zeit? ein Tropfen der wichtig ist, um voran zu kommen auf Rädern durch die Flure..."kommt jemand die Einsamkeit mit Liebe zu füllen?"
This is a complete poem, the way you wrote it, just gave the character so much life
I just visited an Aunt yesterday in a rehab because she had a slip - she has many lately. You've shown that even this has a beauty all its own.
It sounds ..ummm..hopeful..sort of. And that really helps to stop feeling at an otherwise dejected sitch.
Oh Claudia -- this is stunningly poignant and beautiful.
Wonderful write! Thank you for taking the time to visit, I appreciate your comments...♥ ஆεlεɳa ~.^
"measures life in thirty minute slips
and they feel easy in the pockets of
her dressing gown" LOVE THIS!!!!
heart rending to read claudia...you words have captured your subject perfectly..
Love the title, love the end-line, enjoyed the rest as well.
Post a Comment