Terminal
The nurse draws the stiff white sheet
over the face
as the doctor clips her pen to the clipboard.
“A classic case” she says.
“The damage was
done
over many years.”
“A hardening of the oughteries
led to reduced circulation of
spontaneity and laughter
around the body.
This allowed a build up of
resentment
in the internal organs with pooling of
stress and anxiety
at the extremities.”
“There was also evidence of crushing to the vertebrae;
the last straw,
apparently,
having never been reached.”
“The irony is”, said the doctor
“that she had the medication in her pocket.
But the lid was adult-proof
and the child inside her, that might have opened it,
had long since gone away.”
Rachel Parkinson. Whitby. May 2009
A great poem Rachel. You mention that 'hardening of the oughteries' is a phrase from 'God of Surprises' - what a great book that is, no wonder it's a classic.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your chucks are being unproductive! Are you putting grit down for them?
Ours really like pecking my feet - little beggars!!
Thanks for posting this Micky. It felt like one to share.
ReplyDeleteAs for the chickens, it probably doesn't help that my testosterone-fuelled household has given them names like "Rambo". I've been advised to put an egg or two in the henhouse to "give them the idea". Having looked them in the eye, the only idea I can believe they have in their feather-brains is "is this food?"! They are lovely to have around though and yes, ours do the feet thing too.
excellent poem, thank you Micky for posting, and Rachel for writing it!
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