Infectious

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By seashore

Wed, 14 Sep 2016
  • 6824 reads
19 comments
 

INFECTIOUS

by Julia (Overthetop1)

 

You think it is contagious, don't you?

That is why you won't catch my dull eye

for fear a spark of despondency will set light

to your carefully-combed hair,

if you touch my face, the dread may spread

from my drawn expression to your smug one

 

The shabby bleakness of my clothes could,

God forbid, create wrinkles in your smooth attire

It is possible the persistent quiver in my limbs

affects your posture, giving your stance a slight stoop

 

Do you honestly think I need putting into isolation,

when I have accomplished that for myself?

Certificate 12
Poem
Overthetop 1
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

It's such a shame that your daughter didn't get to show these brilliant writings while she was alive.

I could feel her isolation in this poem, which must have been so hard to deal with. Glad that you're sharing this with abc tales, hopefully it will give others that feel the same, the realisation that they're not alone.

Take care Coral.

Jenny. x

 

Submitted by seashore on

Thanks so much for your kind and wise words Jenny.

Coral x

Submitted by VeraClark on

Attitudes to other people's emotional well-being and health are notoriously poor. It has reached crisis point, really. A gorgeous poem capturing the views of others but also, how relieving it would be to transfer the load for just a short while.

 

Submitted by seashore on

Too true Vera Clark, and thanks.

Submitted by seashore on

Good to know this resonates with others.

Thanks for comment magicdarer. 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This encapsulates so much of what's wrong with people's attitudes to mental health. I'm very glad you're publishing these pieces. If it helps one person feel less alone it'll be worth it.

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day

Please share/retweet so it reaches as wide an audience as possible

 

Submitted by seashore on

Thanks insert.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

So sad that people are made feel like this. Insightful and the reproach seems to go in both directions.  

Submitted by blighters rock on

A cracker full of raw emotion

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Conveys so much in so few lines. Especially the loneliness. I think with some it's not so much a fear of being drawn in, as a fear of what to say, or how to reach out without hurting or saying the wrong thing, where just a little warm smile opens to door for showing some interest and compassion, and that there is a willingness of more friendship if/when it's wanted. A bit like the embarrassment of approaching those bereaved, for fear of sounding insensitive and igrnorant. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by seashore on

Thanks Rhiannon - and your last sentence rings particularly true as, since Julia died, I've been on the receiving end of many well-meant but insensitive comments made (as you rightly say) out of sheer embarrassment. 

Submitted by seashore on

Thanks also to Philip Sidney, and blighters for your reactions.  Much appreciated.

Submitted by hoalarg1 on

This is worded in such a poignant way. It resonates with me, and in her poems her voice is very much alive.

 

Submitted by seashore on

Thanks so much hoalarg1 - your sensitive comment means a lot.

Submitted by celticman on

I wonder if it should be dull eyes [pl] and I wonder if this is a psychiatrist/doctor type or a past flame. This is a jaggy nettle to pluck. Poetry as it should be. 

 

Submitted by Stephen Thom on

Quite clinical word choice amongst the stark straight talking style works well in ratcheting up the emotion subtly - bleakness, quiver, dread, peppered around questions brimming with frustration. A strong important piece

 

Submitted by seashore on

Thank you Stephen Thom, and celticman, for reading and commenting.  I found this amongst my daughter's collection,  already typed up, which is always an indication of its importance to her.  For me, I too felt it worthy of a wider audience.

Submitted by love_writing on

Thank you for sharing this, so brave to do so. Those last two lines are truly heart wrenching. Such truth and honesty and talent in this. 

love_writing

Submitted by seashore on

Thank you for reading and seeing what I see, without bias,love_writing.
I am thankful at least that my daughter still speaks through her writing.