Crow and I

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 30 Apr 2014
  • 2757 reads
8 comments
 
A vegetative state?  What the hell does that mean?
 
How have they the cheek to compare me
to a potato, or a swede?
 
I have lost the power of speech – limbs, albeit, 
paralysed, but I have not lost my mind.
 
Dying, as I am, for a plate of fish and chips, 
 
I’ll settle for whatever they can squeeze
down this rubber tube, and yet
they remove it, even against 
my written wishes.
 
I, who am taking too long to die. Never think,
for one second, I am unaware.
 
I am a strain on resources – too expensive
to keep alive.
 
I'm not young, that's true, but neither
am I old, not in my mind.  And, even if am,
why should it matter?
 
No one lives forever, they would have her believe.
 
Excuse me. Forgive me, please, if I try!
 
But no one hears – except my wife.
 
I am her silent prayers...
the tears she sheds...
the  crow, outside my window –
knows life was interrupted here.
 
For the best…for the best, it caws.
 
I am that lie.
Certificate 15
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
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Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Very sad, in many ways. Such a person could be thinking many things, and I suppose even his wife can't always be sure, but can keep trying to guess, and talking to him, and praying to One who does know what he's wanting to say, to know how she can 'respond' to his feelings. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you, Rhiannon, for your inspired thinking.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

I like the use of the crow. They are so knowing and symbolically suited to the situation. You have captured that inner frustration I saw in the expressionless face of my mother-in-law - resentment in her eyes when everyone, helpless to know what to do, spoke for her with their well meaning assumptions. I knew her well enough to know that she would have recognised the sentiments expressed here. I found this poem very moving.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you for sharing, Bee, so very much.

Tina

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

There was an article on the internet recently about a man considered to be in a vegetative states but tests, not sure what, showed that he knew much of what was happening but was completely locked in and unable to communicate.

Scary that life support is turned off when someone ia aware. Worse when the reason is age.

Good poem.

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Yes, it is, Lindy.  But it happens all too often.

Many thanks for sharing.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is petrifying Tina - and such a reality that the fear can't be blanked out easily. The 'I am' reminds me of a politician's political rhetoric somehow, which typifies the policies of 'them' and 'what's good for us.' I don't know where society is going with elder care. 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

...no more than I do, Vera.  Thanks for reading, and sharing your thoughts.  

Tina