Flanked

Cherry

By Bee

Tue, 01 Mar 2016
  • 13541 reads
18 comments
 

When needle slickly lanced cool fat,

all that sensed the slide of steel and pulsed

pain was the muscle under the deadened lard

that bulged as an alien birthing on the flank,

beneath my arm.



But I screeched at the pinch of the pierce 

further back; fierce for the stubborn lack 

of numbness in that area. 

And with a slice of blade, I stole away 

to walk along my usual beach;

the sea to my left, and there 

you were, to my right, on watch,



when at the sudden stench of smoldering flesh, 

I turned my head, just as you caught me 

by my heart's sleeve and led me further along 

the dampened sand till at the sudden tug 

of a stitch, we stopped!

I soothed your puzzled face, 

smoothed your brow; your beard; licked your lips 



with little kisses of fingers, cheered 

you never flinched at my touch

or inched away till the dressing was done,

and then you went out with the lights,

and I opened my eyes just in time

to watch you wander off the edge of a dream.

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This flows really well Bee - wonderful choice of words. Another to read aloud I think

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks insert. I'm glad it flows, and will think about reading it some time. 

x

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for the cherries. smiley

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Got the dreamy 'when does the dream start' feel of going under, and coming out – a dream can seem to last so long when out briefly. I hope you didn't feel uncomfortably woozy for too long. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

It was yesterday, a smaller surgery expected, but turned out bigger, all under local anesthetic, so no wooziness at the time, but the dream / meditation / self induced relaxation, was a lovely escape. Glad that part came across. Thank you, Rhiannon. 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

'Little kisses of fingers' says it all.

Tina x

 

Submitted by Bee on

So pleased you liked that bit. Thank you, Tina. 

Bee

Submitted by celticman on

I like the way reality dissolves. 

 

Submitted by Bee on

And I like getting a lovely comment from you. Thanks CM.

x

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee

This is a lovely poem - and a lovely dream you had. I'm so glad things have gone so well.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you so much, Jean.

Bee

Submitted by Ed Crane on

when only two weeks ago I had the gismo (port catheter) in my shoulder fished out. Also I was warned of the smell of burning flesh. I didn't drift off though. I admit I felt no pain and I chatted away to the nice lady surgeon and her assistant. After a half hour chatting to the nurses in recovery I drove home, much relieved the little purple heart shaped oojit is out and now sitting in a jar on my desk.

However I think your description is what I would have done had I felt any discomfort. (I did drift off actually when it was put in six years ago .... took forever)

 

Good luck

 

Submitted by Bee on

Dear Ed,

thank you for this input, I'm so thrilled you finally have it in a jar on your desk. I really value your sharing your experience - you've been something of an inspiration. Glad you got the reasoning behind this piece. I was kind of playing with the title, and all the different uses of the word 'flanked'. In the past, I wouldn't have imagined going through any kind of surgery without being knocked out, but it's amazing what you can put up with when you have to. 

Very best wishes to you, 

xx

Bee

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Bee, this is beautiful. Couldn't see the joins anywhere, just propelled through place, time and dream. Wonderfully shared.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for your beautiful words, PT.

x

Bee

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Picture credit:http://tinyurl.com/j9zuza5

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

A transportation with such delicate imagery.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Vera.

Bee