I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

17 June 2012

Nursing Home: Jeanette

Tiny woman.
Soft, full hair
beige blonde.

Seated at our table,
at first glance
looks fifty.

I think she's used to
no conversation;
responds when we begin.

We ask how long
she's been here.
'Do you know,' she says,
'I think it's four months ...
I can't be certain.'

Her son works
in the kitchen.
She can see him
sometimes.

Used to live
by water, misses
her house ... voice
trails wistfully,
eyes grow distant.


Submitted for dverse Open Link Night #49

Cross-posted to my verse portraits blog, Impressions You Left
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13 comments:

  1. Claudia20 June 2012 at 07:36

    oh you made me see her.. good that her son works there.. makes me so sad that she misses the water..seems she still sees it..

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  2. Brian Miller20 June 2012 at 07:42

    this makes me sad a bit...i think sometimes people get lost in that system...i am glad she gets to see her son...that is important...and i hope it is important to him...

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  3. Heaven20 June 2012 at 08:15

    Nice capture of her loneliness ~ At least her son is close by ~

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  4. Daydreamertoo20 June 2012 at 08:17

    Awww.... very sad for her to have to have given up a home she loved and have to live somewhere else. Yes, at least she gets to see her son. I hope that helps her somewhat.

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  5. Laurie Kolp20 June 2012 at 08:28

    Makes you wonder why she's there at fifty... very mysterious, intriguing... just like her!

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade20 June 2012 at 08:45

      Laurie, she was more likely 70, only looked 50 at first glance because so well preserved and well groomed..

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  6. Rosemary Nissen-Wade20 June 2012 at 08:28

    She was sad, and trying to make the best of it.

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    Replies
    1. Mary20 June 2012 at 10:17

      I couldn't find the main comment box, oddly enough. So I will comment here. Very sad. I've known people like this too. I guess we have to accept what life brings us, hoping that whatever it brings us we can bear!

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  7. hedgewitch20 June 2012 at 09:26

    Who knows what shores age will wash us up on? An excellent portrait of this woman.

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  8. Beachanny20 June 2012 at 10:47

    A perfect character capture. It's heartbreaking to think that we (women, usually) wind up alone, without keeping our strength, our memory, our talents in tact. But your portrait is a charitable one and with the son nearby gives a measure of hope.

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  9. C Rose20 June 2012 at 13:10

    you pulled this image tightly together with a expedient pace...wonderful write ~ Rose

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  10. Ravenblack20 June 2012 at 14:25

    There's a sad sense of lost. Excellent portrait. Especially well-portrayed the way she talks, the words drift off like that, into the eyes that seem to see back into a distant memory.

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  11. Rosemary Nissen-Wade22 June 2012 at 19:37

    Thanks to you all for your kind comments. I'm glad I succeeded in portraying her.

    ReplyDelete

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