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.

4 June 2016

In Emergency

Be this evil, 
it seems to say, 
letters and parts of letters 
out of view around the sides 
or concealed in the vertical folds. 
It's a long, suspended bag 
for hospital waste – 
white, with black writing.
What it really says is, 
Do not fill 
above this level.

Propped on my high cot,
cables attached to various bits
of my white-gowned body,
the other ends to a high screen
that beeps intermittently
and sometimes shrieks,
I contemplate evil
and waste
and what happens when 
you fill a receptacle
too full.

Obvious analogy: what 
we do to our planet.
But tonight I am cared for,
made comfortable.
I don’t want to think
serious thoughts. I want
to pretend to be old –
this old woman I look like –
to keep living in the short-term;
to forget the ageless awareness
of our larger doom.


PS Yes it is autobiographical, and the experience recent – but it turned out I had nothing seriously wrong.

5 comments:

  1. Good news.! Now you don't have to pretend to be old anymore:)And the rains came...Keep Dry !

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  2. I love our disguises as old women, dont you? wouldnt they all be surprised? or maybe not, LOL. I am so glad there was nothing seriously wrong........I have been feeling that larger doom of which you speak lately.......

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  3. To be propped up with wires in a hospital bed is a common sight. To be discharged all clear is a big relief. Just so one is quick to get medical help when needed that is important. Every good news is always a joy Rosemary!

    Hank

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  4. Been to Project 365+1 Rosemary! Can read but not comment. It's a closed group for members only.


    Hank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's true, Hank. I am cross-posting all mine here anyway. Other people's, you can enjoy but not say so.

      Delete

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