The Tenth Circle of Hell

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 09 Mar 2016
  • 2757 reads
8 comments
 
Your hell...blow Dante, you said,
was a circle of chintz-back chairs.
To add insult to injury – gave you
a country-cottage puzzle to do
to pass the time and you told them
in no uncertain terms they could stick it
where the sun didn’t shine. Eff off,
you thought.
 
It was a purpose built circle within
a circle...all roads led to home
so no one could get lost...all arrows
painted on the floor – colour codes, 
grab rails – Velcro-fastening slippers,
chair-lifts, and photos of  the past.
 
The thing was, you weren’t nuts
not in the normal sense...true – you wore
Paddi-Pads and needed a pelican bib,
your inhibitions you’d thrown to the wind, 
and had obsessions for biscuits...food
in general...anything didn’t move – fair game.
 
And you had tantrums, not forgetting
your violent tendencies, but still you had
a whole load of marbles...more marbles left
than most are dished out with in the first place.
 
Walking round in circles – you grew giddy
and so, I bailed you out...for now, but the truth – 
plain to see, I lost your trust. So...fuck Dante 
and his circles, I’ve my own private hell; 
it’s you and me shaped, and our long
goodbye.
 
 
 
 
Certificate 15
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Biography
Love

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Tina, I am so sorry to see this is autobiographical xx

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, insert.  Your words and the  sentiment behind them, mean so very much to me.

Tina xx

 

Submitted by Bee on

Long goodbyes are the hardest - for everyone. I wish you peace.

x

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

How right you are, Bee.  

I was watching TV the other night, and somebody was talking about their husband  who had dementia, and they described  what it was like, losing a piece of them every day, and it was this line of  thinking, indeed, that prompted me to write this poem, and I thank you so much for  your empathy.

Tina x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Tina, isn't this 'biography', rather than 'autobiography'?

A picture of the hell it might be for someone placed in care while feeling it isn't somewhere that values him/her, understands what mental capacities he/she still has? From my visits, there are so many different personalities, and abilities, and, despite different levels of communication, a lot of understanding gained by sensitive staff and visitors. Actually, often so pleased to find those who show a spark of humour and comprehension and even irritation, though only read in the eyes.

Decisions desperately difficult to make for those we love, though. And mixed with feelings of guilt that would he/she be better off at home, or not? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Rhiannon, you sum the situation up so very well when you say, 'Decisions, desperately difficult to make for those we love', and certainly in my case, you couldn't have said anything closer to home.  As to the 'biography', or 'autobiography', I, of course, understandwhat you mean, but in this instance, unfortunately, you could argue they are almost one and the same thing.  

Many thanks, as ever, for your words of wisdom. It helps us tremendously being able to share our problems, and I am more than grateful to you.

Tina

 

Submitted by loquaciousicity on

Your agony shines (is 'shines' the right word?) through, Tina!

I've found that 'quick goodbyes' sometimes take the longest to survive...

Terry 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Could have sworn I'd already thanked you, Terry, but it seemed I didn't.  Your thoughts, as ever inspiring, and I thank you for them.  Hope your week is a good one.

Tina