Home

bordering on insanity

by Vivienne Grant

bordering on insanity – they said –
those white voices in my head
she’ll have to be committed you know
otherwise where will she go?

i am committed i said –
metaphorically stamping my normal sized foot in the bed –
to building whole persons from eggs to adults
with my three I’m experiencing very good results

oh yes…sagely nodding – the voices concur
she’s obsessed with motherhood – we refer
to her husband who reports that she’s cold / half dead
not much passion that’s all in her head

my passions are all intellectual i plea
reading and English i love poetry
i wish i could teach impart what i can
of the nature of growth – of the language of man

how deep! they scoff – those voices of mine
she thinks she’s important – intelligent – oh my!
she’s lost it – she’s nuts – daft as a loon
(she even believes she’s swayed by the moon!)

frustrated i call it – so much still to do
too much i’ve expected of me and of you
i set such high goals and i don’t wish to fail
please help me patch up the holes in my pail…

the voices confer and then, shaking their heads,
they shuffle away from my bed
can’t be done – no one’s willing to give up as much
as it takes – as you need, as such
so we’re leaving you to it – get on with your life
just try to be nice
yes, a nice little wife

05/03/1995

Author's Note: appears in my anthology "Patchwork Moon"

Posted on 02/22/2012
Copyright © 2024 Vivienne Grant

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 02/25/12 at 09:13 PM

Quite brilliant. I'm enjoying getting to know your voice, feel your experience.

Posted by George Hoerner on 06/30/12 at 01:01 PM

I've heard from my daughter who says there is more to life than being a wife. But now she's a mother and wants to smother her little girl with her love and devotion. Nice write lady. And I would take some of that knowledge!!

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 06/30/12 at 03:25 PM

Good to see this as POTD!

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)