Every morning without coffee is dark and cold
The lab order for blood tests specified “fasting”
Forty-five minutes waiting with the hopeful,
their fingers crossed waiting for a winning hand
despite the knowledge the house always wins
I’m not on earth to survive this, my life
even strangers know me better than I do
It’s “just routine,” as far as I know, annual exam
But a story can be written in less than a year
Unseen the way rings in a tree are compassed
In the cell I confess my blood to a technician
who hears the beat of sinners all her working day
She opens a window on my secret world
And my dark red tale begins to flow
She stores the chapters in a tray
Out the front door to the coffee cart
I frown at the paleness of French roast poured
A couple sips confirm it’s anemic. Dumped out
On cold morning asphalt; it flows away from me
Steam still rising there as I drive off
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Comments: 31
what a fantastic way with words, Brett...i BOW to you....(BOW*)
I've never been really comfortable with the ownership of poems. I have some nagging suspicion that they come from outside of us. As if we are panning for gold on the riverbanks of our lives. You keep at it and you'll accumulate flecks of color,the "gold dust." But from time to time, you find a nugget! You hold it up for everyone to see but you really haven't created anything. You just discover it.
Early mornings without coffee or cereal and clogged waiting rooms, those are helpful too. Hmm, maybe a workshop. All participants are woken early, deprived of sustenance, and have their blood drawn. Magic might follow...
Thx for the boost Amy! We share a favorite stanza.
Debbie G. that line happened at a stoplight on my way home yesterday. I jotted it down in my ever present notebook and waited in vain for something else to happen.
Ever have those lines, the ones that seem to portend great things but never amount to anything? I was afraid this was just another one. Turns out I had to sleep on it then take an decaffeinated trip to the lab.
Ivy, you make a lot of sense. See? I can only be properly interpreted from outside myself! I'm thinking of switching stz 1 & 2. Thoughts anyone? another revision that is crying out for redemption:
"A couple sips confirm it's anemic"
I am leaning towards
"confirm its anemia"
oxox rita!
cami, its just as rewarding to hear a teacher saying them now. In defense of those poor souls, they had my number. I drove them crazy with my lack of a work ethic.
Bless you Peter. I'm 49 and have long found words and meanings fascinating. But like a flock of sparrows I daily courted with grain, they have only now begun to gingerly eat from my palm.
And now... apparently people think I have some talent... and you're right that it comes from within. In my opinion that's where the good stuff is.
thx jessica!
penni, get up. You're scaring the children. ;)
but of course lady N. always happy to be of service.
I didn't think of drug testing though, I thought of STD testing, but maybe thats just me.
Heres to getting your morning coffee, or depriving it of yourself for some insperation if you wish!
And my dark red tale begins to flow
She stores the chapters in a tray
Loved those lines, great poem!
Rubicon, thanks for weighing in. I know it isn't perfect but its really pulling line off the reel. I'm at a stalemate on revisions. Like its a soap bubble I don;t want to pop.
Thanks for loving the lines that love you back Alison
Holly, penni, drug or STD, if you find it then its there the signpost is
It's "just routine," as far as I know, annual exam
it was lab work connected with an annual exam. You bad girls. You're projecting your anxieties. :)
ah, the sheer gulibility, the STUPIDITY, of some old ladies.........
au natural)
And my dark red tale begins to flow
She stores the chapters in a tray" is extremely profound.
Very fresh way of expressing a seemingly run of the mill procedure.
Gracias Lydia. Thats always the thing huh? Trying to find some new way to say something. Just think. at one time "Tears fell like rain" was fresh. We have a bigger challenge these days.
Your eye is clear, you've seen all of me there is to see.
I hope all is well with you my dear. I have missed you of late. So you're in Cabo huh? Great for you and Deb! You lucky people!
Hope to read more of your poetry soon. ;)