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If I ever do, I'll fly
by Paganini Jones"If I ever go like that," she said
"Just knock me on the head."
Her daughter nodded, dutifully.
"Oh, Yes", she said. And that was that.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In bright, locked ward her mother lies.
Thumb-sucking child asleep for once.
Fit at last to be discharged,
but just not safe to be alone.
Soon waking, crying for her mum
or calling in her sleep for home.
Her daughter grey herself,
Bone-weary, tearless-sad
Still waiting by her mother's bed,
With mug of tea quite cold beside her foot.
Remembering the promise made before,
Considers which the greater sin:
Her broken promise heavy on her heart,
Or mother's broken head imagined with relief.
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She dreamed of flight above the rain-washed streets,
Of reaching out for raindrops, clouds and stars.
Of dancing, young again, in cold church halls
With Albert, handsome army lad
Before he went away to sea for years
and came home old, though only twenty-three.
She spun with him around the hall
Beyond the supper, past the chatter
Lindy hop, Waltz, foxtrot, more
Until they flew and kissed beneath the stars.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
She woke and still, (in mind at least) on Albert's arm
cried joyfully, "Let's fly, let's fly"
and did: at least a tiny space
through shattered glass, above the street
Her daughter woke too late. Too late!
Her mother jumped, though how she got up there
no one could say. She flew in love
right down, and on perhaps to Albert's joy.
She took her daughter's dreadful choice away
to leave behind blessed, welcome grief. 04/04/2017 Author's Note: A bit rough no doubt but working on an idea that has been in my mind a while.
Posted on 04/05/2017
Copyright © 2024 Paganini Jones
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Rob Littler on 04/08/17 at 05:38 PM Loving this draft for sure. I think a series of scenes is a nice device. I want something more, in the end, akin to the language in the 2nd and 3rd stanzas. It seems to jump to the jumping. Maybe you never even have to say it at all, like keep that secret to yourself but make me know, somehow. YOU're the poet, yo! Good stuff. Thanks for sharing. Here's to caring! |
| Posted by Brian Francis on 04/11/17 at 02:41 PM Your story speaks to so many who have endured such a situation. The sadness of the the actual loss abates long before the person actually leaves us sometimes. Rough topic handled in a passionate and caring piece, Good job thanx for that. -- peace --bf |
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