Endurance

Cherry

By Philip Sidney

Sun, 15 Mar 2015
  • 5177 reads
14 comments
 

Sisyphus knew

daily endurance

how absurd, the behaviour of living.

 

Plastic handles cut off the blood 

6 bags of tins, why tins?

lugged along the long, long walk,

all on a fag and a strong cup of tea.

 

Stop for a breather, instant relief,

did Fiennes ever stop?

The children run on,

more of a Shackleton, shepherding them,

‘Spirits up kids, treats when we’re in’.

 

Lifts her Thor Heyerdhal face

into the wind,

deflects the ‘Cheer up love’

of leering sharks

with ‘stop at the curb, look left then look right’

pretends not to hear, ‘want another, love’, sneer.

 

Not far now, the brow of the hill,

calves flexing, feet slipping in old Dr Scholls,

lungs wheezing, twilight shift later -

never mind the cotton lung -

she can do this, she must do this,

she does this

again.

 

Certificate 12
Poem
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by tibi popovici on

That's a piece of "resistance", Philip! smiley Powerful again and very well crafted. Like it!

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you tibi. :)

Submitted by Bee on

Perfectly portrayed  - pressing on with nothing but forced determination and endurance. I felt it all in the no words wasted running flow from start to painful finish. And that she will have to do the whole thing again, is implied in the last, most important word. 

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Bee. :)

Submitted by VeraClark on

It must go on and you can feel it in each word. An urban take on an old myth. Should there be a 'to' between 'not hear' or is it stylistic. Sometimes I'm a gimp, Philip.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Yes it should have a 'to', thank you for seeing it! smiley

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you for the cherries. smiley

Submitted by torscot on

I liked the Dr Scholls ref. They grip better going uphill.

torscot

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Torscot, you can't get those wooden exercise ones anymore, I've looked.

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

I'm puffed from just reading it. Great poem.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jean, put your feet up and have a breather.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Also liked the vivid picture of the return with the heavy plastic bag and the kids, with mix of the myth and the explorers intertwined. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Rhiannon, we're all heroes, some in a quiet way.

Submitted by celticman on

a gripping read, strong stuff indeed.