You are the last of them
they have fallen like
tin ducks in a shooting gallery
but you endure
in your tiny flat
your confessional
walls banked by display cabinets
their doors bulging to contain
a slurry of opaque memories
The anecdotes you do not tell define you
Time has you in its spiteful maw and it shakes you like a rag doll
but you are stubborn
you defy it
perhaps it does not have the stomach for your tiny brittle bones
We put you in your chariot
and swathed you and swaddled you in the rug my sister bought
and we walked the streets of Harrow
streets you had not seen in years
had not wanted to see again
Eventually we were ready
and when we sat together to eat
I could see at once that you were frozen to the bone
but did not have the strength to tell me
I went to you and I held you in my arms and gave you my heat
would have given you my blood
I did not realize
how could I have betrayed you to the cold?
But you had always expected me to
Comments
scratch | December 4, 2011 - 20:16
Why no comments? Can't understand it. I really enjoyed reading this, Stomach for your tiny brittle bones; really good. and this detail amongst so many other wonderful turns of phrase. Well done Lavadis.
lavadis | December 5, 2011 - 07:56
Thanks so much for the comments Scratch. What makes this site so strong is that you never know what will appeal so you have to keep striving to be better!
scratch | December 5, 2011 - 20:04
Hi Lavadis, I hope this is not too cheeky but if you get the chance would you mind reading "Ode to my Grandfather" and a comment for good or bad would be very appreciated. If you can't I fully understand.
cynthiae77 | December 8, 2011 - 15:32
I really enjoyed reading this. Your phrasing is detailed and flows very well.
Blessing | February 25, 2012 - 19:16
Touching ...
scratch | February 8, 2013 - 19:15
Lavadis, I can quite see why you picked this as a special one from you. There is a wealth of emotion in this made all the stronger for what is the underlying story here. 'The anecdotes you do not tell'. Says so, so much.
lavadis | February 8, 2013 - 19:17
There is too much honesty in our silences.
celticman | February 16, 2013 - 22:46
would have given you my blood'
brilliant, blood and tears.