Saturday 9 June 2012

Of green apples and old bike




sun creeps like a trickster's clock on wall



to get up now or fold under white sheets
to break the eggs with a fork or boil them in water   
to cut the blooming roses or let them fall like rosary beads 


it besets her that simple things 
seem like shaking the trees for just a leaf  
(knocking heads is probably more apt) 

to push or pull the doors
to walk to the park or skiphotch to wheat field,         
she jogs her memory of what happened last night 




torrential rain lashing her skin,
fear snapping on heels like demented dogs    
while running headlong into the city smog   



she is lost in the river tide, 
adrift in choices that roots her feet while others fly
(her son buys a second hand bicycle 
because it's dirt cheap than paying for a car)  


until a hand settles firmly on her arm



scent of pine cones and green apples
warm as honeysuckle in springbed,   
kisses cheek in gentle whisper 


it is going to be alright


Posted for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads:  A word with Laurie:   Dementia/Insanity
and D'verse Poets Pub:   Poetics:   It's a matter of Choice

Picture credit:   here 

40 comments:

  1. good if in the middle of all these decisions and storms and struggles of life is someone that you can trust and says it's going to be alright..there comes a great calm with this part..and i like that you gave it a scent also..and a very interesting as well..pine cones and green apples...nice

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    1. Thanks Claudia for the kind words and visit ~

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  2. simple things
    seem like shaking the trees for just a leaf...is a great early touch to set her tone for the decisions...and then the pace picks up tremendously with her anxiety...love the peace that comes with a touch in the end....smiles.

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    1. I like that part too Brian ~ Thanks for the lovely words and encouragement ~

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  3. Wonderful close! What we all need. k.

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  4. The anxiety is all so visible, but all's well that ends well. I too love the close. The affirmation that 'everything will be alright'
    Lovely!

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    1. Thanks Bren, everything will be alright ~

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  5. I can relate to the anxiety of making choices. Wonderful images in this and I am glad that the person who smells like pine cones and green apples came along. Such a relief.

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    1. Thanks Peggy ~ Having too many choices is sometimes not a good thing ~

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  6. Yes, decisions become overwhelming. I love the image of rose buds falling like rosary beads. The indecision and fear..and comfort are so beautifully portrayed.

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    1. Thank you ~ I am still deciding though on clipping the red roses in full blooms or not in the vase ~

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  7. What better choice than pine cones and green apples, and for someone to say alright. I'd gladly relinquish my choices for that. Nice write!

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  8. It's easy to get overwhelmed with choices. Sometimes even the simple ones can cause stress. You wrote a nice piece here. Enjoyed it much.

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  9. It is going to be alright... such comforting words we all need to hear at certain times. Confusion and disarray can make choices difficult, that's for sure.

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  10. Well, this is quite whispy and I really like the last few lines.

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  11. ... and this is simply beautiful.

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  12. Heaven, this worked so very well for both prompts. I can just picture this:

    she is lost in the river tide,
    adrift in choices that roots her feet while others fly

    Sometimes there are too many choices for one with dementia. Or sometimes the person doesn't see choices at all; and hopefully, all will be all right, and the person is in good hands.

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  13. Great images in this one Heaven--fallen beads, hopscotch of choices, anxiety of all kinds--the little things wear on us sometimes more than the big ones--then reassurance. Enjoyed it much.

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  14. Weaved in prompts a plenty with his one, anxiety can be a pain to get through but when you do relief is great.

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  15. What a lovely read, decisions are full of anxious moments but a reasurring hand is always welcome!

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  16. What a perfect description of the onset of this dire condition. Very well done.
    K

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  17. I dont think there is a single thing that could be said better, in such situations, as "everything will be alright". Just lovely, Heaven!

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  18. like the scents and whispering encouragement of the closing.

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  19. I see this touches on the topic of dementia too...you describe the uncertainty so well. The textures and scents in this add to the description beautifully, Grace. The comforting hand brought me comfort too.

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  20. I really enjoy your work, there is a clarity and beauty to it that reminds me of ripe peaches (no idea why fruit but hey, I mean it in a good way!). The pic is perfect for this one, I loved the domesticity of the bedlinen, eggs, roses, even the every day choices proving to be overwhelming ,then the flash back to the previous day followed by a return to safety with the closing lines. Nicely done!

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  21. scent of pine cones and green apples
    warm as honeysuckle in springbed,
    kisses cheek in gentle whisper

    This is a beautiful passage. Wonderfully optimistic. I wonder how realistic, though. Still, it's a fine counterpoint to the rest of the poem and deserves its place.

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  22. Stunning imagery.... 'to cut the blooming roses or let them fall like rosary beads '.......

    http://sharonlee-gatheredinthoughts.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/walking-enlightenment-road.html

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  23. Heaven- I actually took a really strong message from this....not only have you drilled down into the massive amounts of choice that we all make every day...but of the fear that can walk alongside these processes....but that ultimately- everything will be ok. This reminds me ( only in message!) of when bill hicks would say 'its just a ride'. This is great thoughtful poetry

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  24. what a floaty feeling, i wonder if it could or might feel like this.

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  25. sun creeps like a trickster's clock on wall

    What a great opening to a lovely and wonderful poem. Your gentleness of soul speaks so clearly and powerfully in this poem. Consolation at choices that bring anxiety yet calms those emotions with love and tenderness. We are indeed beset with so many decisions in life, and finding and resolving them with another whom you trust can bring consolation and awareness. Lovely poem.

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  26. hotspicywings@yahoo.com10 June 2012 at 12:00

    now this.. i like!
    love your play of words and images.
    galing galing mo na! ;-))

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  27. when we have to choose, we do feel lost in a river pulling us...i just as soon have good habits so i don't have to choose what to do, and can think about my poetry



    Princess Vadar

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  28. Sad but in a comforting way. My mom has dementia - thanks, Heaven; as always.

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  29. I think this pretty is much it....such a hard road, but at the same time hard for me may not be as hard for them after a time. This was really good made me very introspective. Great Job Grace.

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  30. I love your closing stanza...so fragrant and real feeling...can almost feel the breath. Excellent poem, Heaven, your words are so unique. :)

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  31. Like Brian and Claudia at the top I like both the idea that regardless of the storms of life there is someone to get you through, and also that idea that you recognise their scent, interesting way of putting it and very intimate.

    nice poem!

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  32. I loved your words, but the ending caressed us all~
    Beautiful!

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  33. this absolutely makes me feel good.

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~