Coming Out Just Fine
by Glenda L Shank, Oct 23, 2006
It happened on one of those dreary cold
November nights, when you don't want
to venture out but just stay inside and pop popcorn
and watch old Doris Day movies where everything worked
out just fine for everyone. Even while you wanted
this one thing to work out for you,
but knowing that it wouldn't
because it had been coming for a week.
Days spent at the bedside watching her sleep
the deathly quiet slumber of those medicated
to ease their suffering. Struggling yourself when
forced to leave the bedside and tend to children
too young to recognize the impact of
their grandmother's death on them or you.
Wondering what to do with the two left with babysitters,
deemed too young to have at the hospital
or even at the funeral. Sad that their memories
of her would really be repeated things they'd heard
from siblings, like reruns of TV Land where everything works out
in the end. Your face frozen in some clown like smile
of familiarity and civility as you make the small talk
that must happen at these events and means nothing.
Amazed at so much sobriety in one spot, you ask,
"Was there a required AA meeting before entry to the hospital?"
“Or can grief can sober someone? Sobering too is
your own strength. That you held your dying mother's hand
while making chit chat with your molester.
The secret that remains a secret between you
and him. Angry that now is not the time to tell
and knowing now there never will be time.
Furious at death itself for taking away time
and for being so damn inconvenient to come
while you and your children live in a battered women's
shelter, and must come to the hospital with the man
you were fleeing from. He will stay through the funeral
and Thanksgiving with an awkward silence as you keep
that secret too, making excuses for why you leave
the hospital each night before curfew at the shelter.
You ache from being the only one not there when she passes,
after you are the one who whispered in her ear
that it was alright. You just get a call at the shelter,
some distant cousin reporting the lasted news of your mother’s death.
Making you cry for the emptiness of her, of you,
and of secrets and for nothing ever coming out just fine.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Powerful!
This would have to be by far the most amzing, emotive, thought provoking poetry that I have ever seen on this site. You are a poet that writes from experience and heart, and I really like that. Thankyou so much for this its being printed off the minute I finish typing this comment. I could not help but cry from this. So sad, yet so honest... Thankyou!! xxxxx
. Rewarded 4
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Very intersting concept and images associated with this tragic events.
Your enjabments were placed in an unusual manner, thanks for sharing.
. Rewarded 4
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First, it's SO nice to see you back...
Second, this piece is VERY moving but I hope that it's not from anything that's happened recently...
It's well written, full of emotion and feeling.. and caused me to stop and think... and wonder... and hope that all those times that I sat with people who took their last breath.. and held their hand as they passed... that it brought comfort to the one passing and to the family members who couldn't be there as their loved one passed...
It made me stop and think that I need to be more careful in talking of death... you see.. I've seen so much of it... that I don't think anything about talking about it... it's a normal part of my life... and has gotten to the point where, for the most part, it doesn't bother me...
Anyway... this is an important write... least to me!
Thanks for sharing it, best wishes in the contest... and ...
how ya been?!?!?!
Love ya!
~Melissa
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Thank you.
Thanks for the nice comments on my work. Though this poem is based on a real experience, it has been about 12 years since my mom passed.
Glenda
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Nicely Done.
I like this piece a lot. I especially liked how you didn't end the sentence/line, the fact that it carried over to the next line kept me hooked. Nicely done and Good luck!
<3BeautifulDisaster9 -
It is wonderful to read your works, and your great story telling ability through your poetry artistry.
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