An Aural Spy! (IP)

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 08 Nov 2014
  • 2136 reads
8 comments
 

It isn’t good to eavesdrop
but when you have the care
of a very aging couple
and one can hardly hear –
the other has confusion –
says things that don’t make sense,
and gets worked up that she appears
now not just deaf, but dense …

You really have to ‘monitor’
an open ear for stress –
if quiet, they’re just sleeping,
but if you hear distress,
or turmoil, you can drift along
quite quickly to untangle,
explain to each what the other means,
deflect a fiery wrangle.

It isn’t nice to eavesdrop,
but need to hear night’s calls
for help to rise and find the loo
with no mistakes or falls –
so sometimes overhearing
sleep mutters or a scream
and rushing in may find it’s just
a ‘Boys’ Own’ game in dream!.

For babies, and the aged,
a monitor can be
essential to the safety,
not stealing privacy.
It means they can be more alone
without you lurking by –
you all can have some solitude –
discreet this aural spy!

[IP: Eavesdropping]

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Love
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Rhiannon...I can so identify with this, for many reasons.  The only problem being if one forgets the baby-monitor is still switched on.  Years ago my husband and I took the kids to Butlins...monitor on whilst we went to dinner, kids tucked up in bed in our family room, whilst a member of the Butlins staff would listen in for you whilst you were away.  Trouble was, on one particular occasion, my husband and I forget to turn it off when we returned, a couple of hours later, slightly tipsy.  Nuff saidsmiley  

A great poem from you, as usual.  

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks very much, Tina.
Yes, my daughter used to make sure when she went down to talk with them that that monitor got switched off! But we had to remember to turn it back on when she'd left them alone again! We first got the monitor for my father-in-law when he was on his own, his wife away, very tired. But realised once she returned that it was very necessary now for different reasons, used with discretion. Of course, he is now in a Nursing Home, and has become much happier and more content than I've ever known him, and we try to keep telling my mother-in-law that she can call us via the monitor, but she forgets and is shy! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

An interesting switch of perception, somehow privacy is loses meaning when monitoring safety.  

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Difficult sometimes to accept need for less privacy, but it was interesting to note, that these two, especially he with his dementia, though fiercely desiring to be independent, actually were so relieved often when one of us arrived to explain/interpret/solve a difference of opinion at 'just the right time', and didn't realise that we were able to hear what was going on from a distance, though not necessarily in detail, whereas they would have been fed up if we were on the spot all the time - which we wouldn't have wanted to be, so there was a kind of privacy still,but  with help too! (?) Rhiannon
 

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

It is fun to share in your family situation. I think your spying with the monitor was a very good idea, and I'm sure your inlaws didn't resent their loss of privacy, and you gained necessary reassurance that they were okay.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. It was quite an experience, and very useful at the time! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello  Rhiannon,

You always see further than the obvious and you have done it once again with this poem.  You have seen that there can be a good motive for eavesdropping which most of us wouldn't have thought of at first.  You are always so perceptive and quick off the mark with it..

Much enjoyed 

Moya

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

My first thought, Moya, was that 'I can't do anything on eavesdropping' thinking of the kind of story you did, but then memories stirred about this situation, and it seemed worth seeing if it would fit into verse neatly! warm regards, and thanks for all your reading and commenting. enjoyed the chat! Rhiannon