The Waiting Room

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Bee

Mon, 18 May 2015
  • 17431 reads
51 comments
 

All eye contact is strictly avoided

like a taboo - each wondering

about the other women's -

as yet, untold secrets. Who 



will leave the building smiling,

and will there be one, or more

hiding red eyes and regrets

for neglecting to come sooner?



My name is called. I rise and feel

a fraud, especially knowing

there will be some who actually 

need to be here - 





It's the expressions on practiced

faces that gives the game away.

After all the kneading and squeezing

has been completed, and pictures



scrutinized, comes the crunch. 

A needle punch pincushions

me to the core; a length of steel

pierces the shell to impale the hidden 



limpets of armpits - only screamed once.

Advanced. The word hangs

in the air. You don't go back from here

to the waiting room - except to collect



your unsuspecting partner. Cosy,

the pretty box with a soft settee he's lost 

in - flower printed cushions and curtains -

walls painted cream; tasteful, for hospital.





After you have broken and comforted 

your man, you are deemed ready to begin

the dreaded journey they assure you

is the only road to recovery. You'll do it, too,



because it seems there is no choice. 

There'll be time to cry. But you would give 

your left breast to go back to the waiting 

room and start over... 



 

Certificate 15
Poem
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Oh my goodness, Bee, this took my breath away, like a blow to the solar plexus.  I felt the transition.

Submitted by Bee on

Glad you felt it worked. Thanks Philip. 

Bee

Submitted by love_writing on

This hits hard..with emotive, raw impact. 

' A needle punch pincushions me to the core'

 Such a powerful line, that like this poem, struck me to the core.

love_writing

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks so much LW.

Bee

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I hope it's not so, but I don't think you would post such a thing if it wasn't. I was with you from the first line. You have detailed so well the confusion: guilt: fear that comes in spades after such a visit. Reading this, I felt it now almost as strongly as I did five years ago and that was the reason I wrote about "taking poison for life." --- One of life's cruelest of ironys!

Dare I wish you good luck?

Keith xxx

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Ed. Your good luck wish is more than welcome. I'm going to look for 'taking poison for life', 

Thank you.

Dxxx

Bee

Submitted by Ed Crane on

on ABC I don't think. Probably on another "site,"but if you wish I'll dig it out and post it, but it's certainly not a cheerful read.

XX

 

Submitted by Bee on

I'd really like to read it, Ed, do you want to try again - sending me a PM?

Bee

Submitted by Ed Crane on

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Post it, then it can be read by all. Try the pm as well, I'm curious to see if it works this time.

 

Bee

Submitted by Ed Crane on

but I don't think it went through because I didn't get a copy.

Against my better judgment I'll put it on here.

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Made me cry. X I hate this poem. The sudden changeover is cruel, the mental switch.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Sorry, Vera, but thank you.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I feel humbled on reading this, Bee.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Ah, don't say that, Tina. And thank you.

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for the lovely cherries! Sorry, I forgot to say.

Bee

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Beautiful and heartbreaking. This is an absolutely stunning poem which is expertly judged in tone and structure.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks LC. That's really nice, and very much appreciated.

Bee

Submitted by THERESA GAYNORD on

Such a powerful and well executed write! Very deserving of the award. It left me shaken but that's a good thing. Anytime a writer makes you feel like this, it is a great thing. And a writer that I will look for once again.

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Morgaine. 

Thank you for your positive comments. I'm pleased you liked it.

Bee

Submitted by scratch on

This is our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day!

Get a fantastic reading recommendation every day.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks scratch - that's really nice.

Bee

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I was forming the " I hope this isn't ..." start of my comment as I read the poem, and now I see that it is, so firstly this hits the reader like a smack in the face, not least the description of the special waiting room. I've been in ones like that. Awful. And secondly I am so sorry Bee, and I wish you well xx

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks so much insert - for your comments, and especially for the wishes.

x

Bee

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Words which press gently but just keep pressing until they choke you. I think the contrast between the polite and pleasantly decorated waiting room and the later deeply disturbing prognosis is really powerful, all accompanied by a muted scream xxx   

 

Submitted by Bee on

Lovely comments. Thank you Jane.

Bee

Submitted by tibi popovici on

I can feel the drama, but i will not try to describe it..., it's too deep Bee.

Nice work!

T.

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Tibi.

Bee

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Powerless of expressing words other than supporting ones, Bee. The anguish is so evident in this poignant poem that one cannot fail to feel moved.

All the very best, Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Support means so much, Luigi, and your best, is gratefully accepted. Thank you.

Bee

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