Journeys

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 28 Sep 2015
  • 2766 reads
9 comments
 
Child in her eyes, and in her bones,
as I help the nurse lift her
to the commode;
 
doesn’t eat enough to keep a sparrow alive.  
Given up, she seems to have done
over the last month or so, since
Dad died. 
 
She glances up at me; looks petrified. 
 
‘It’s OK,’ I reassure her.  
We won’t drop you...promise.’
 
‘It’s not that,’ she chides; dignity
once more intact. ‘It’s just...not the day 
for the window-cleaners I hope?
 
My bum on show for all and sundry
to see, I don’t cherish the thought of.’
 
‘No, that’s Thursdays.  Today’s
Wednesday...remember?’
 
‘I do, indeed...now you remind me,
so then, tomorrow I shall make dead sure
to wear my best, frilly draws...’
 
and for a moment, it’s almost as if
the years have fallen away, and I snatch
a glimpse of her before her mind was a maze
of so many no-through roads.
 
Squeeze her hand.  ‘Stop it, Mum, please.
 
You’re making me laugh, way too much...
and it hurts.’
 
And some.
 
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Love

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Nice little incident. There are often those occasional little sparks of communiation, memories, and humour that help to realise that the confused person is still there somewhere inside, and help to be able to show love and warmth more meaningfully again, as in your squeezing of her hand. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks, Rhiannon.  You hit the nail right on the head with your words...as eversmiley

Tina 

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

'a maze of so many no-through roads' such a telling phrase. So sad that the real person is still there but does manage to surface occasionally. Sad and funny in equal measures, love 'the best frilly draws.'

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Morning, Lindy, and many thanks for popping bysmiley  Draws, and allwink

Tina

 

 

Submitted by Pat G on

So many of us facing this - in others, or ourselves. Loved your lines:

a glimpse of her before her mind was a maze
of so many no-through roads.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks, Pat.  And what you say about others...ourselves, so very true.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You always manage to capture these moments so well Tina. Bringing saddness and laughter to the reader at the same time, which isn't an easy task.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hello there, Jenny.  Glad you think so.  Life has many challenges, for us all, and I like to think there is brighter side to those darker moments, that, if we look hard enough, we can invariably ferret out.

Tina

 

Submitted by EB on

I felt the double edge of that hurt from laughter snd a glimpse of normality at the end, sad but beautifully done, Tina.