Yellow Rose of Bangalore

 Half sat, mostly sprawled

across the big white bed in

room 3042, of a grand hotel

in Bangalore. My mobile rings.

I know before answering it’s

one of those calls that defines

life into ‘before’ and ‘after’,

so hesitate as long as

possible in ‘before’. 

 

“Dad passed away in the night.”

I don’t believe it, tears come but

I don’t believe it and sit, stand, sit,

pace around, shaking my head.

I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know what to do.

 

Stupid thoughts: must cancel the

newspapers, inform the landlord,  

hair appointment at 4 o’clock.

I hear a strange sound,

a sort of ascending groan.

It’s coming from me.

 

There’s a single yellow rose

in a vase on the desk. 

Reviews

[Buddhistboy73]

For me you capture here the way people focus on details when life's big events happen to us, maybe a way from protecting ourselves from the pain for a while.
This is the third piece of yours i have read, and you really have a talent with words, and with assisting the visual process for the reader.
I loved this piece...:)

[Alicante lullaby]

such a painful moment and you sketch it so vividly in front of the reader,,,,the piece was all tears,,,,a torn heart and yet a feeling that we all are familiar with one way or other,of losing a loved one,,,,,and midst of pain the daily tasks,,,crowding up,,,,,,,,a heart felt write,,

[SPINNING ON that dizzy ..]

You portray that moment with such emotion and plain clarity that we almost take that breath in with you before you answer the phone. The pain and reality in these kinds of moments in our life are all to much to take in... we can prepare, we can think ahead and we think we know what we will do.... but it is somehow much more than we anticipate... but we get through them to..... Take care sweet lady.

Love and light
Kath

[Jibey]

Such moments are etched onto the mind - and the precise location and the thoughts that follow are not easily forgotten... and here they are set in words that will remain..

[PianoandPage]

oh hayley... *hugs*

there's poetry and then there's poetry y'know?

you capture the moment here, keep it honest and simple. no frills. no flowery language.

you invite us into your heart as ghostly voyeurs watching your world shift into "after".

you describe the immediate shock of fresh grief with the ordinary surrealism those of us who have had our own moments in that vortex can immediately connect with and that anyone still blessed enough not to know this pain can clearly see.

i know this may sound strange to hear but you are brave for writing and sharing this.

thank you.

[Murphy]

Your words capture the angst of the moment with a precision that leaves the reader trembling. You have translated the depths of grief into simple and effective language that can be understood and felt by all. My heart breaks as I take in the details surrounding your loss...my deepest sympathies to you and your family.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

This is heartbreaking, feelings exactly put when we hear these things.. momentary shock.
I don't know as with many poems if this is your wonderful imagination or if this happened to you .. if so, i am so sorry.. what a horror as it happend to me ... the last line .. that is brilliant..
A single yellow rose in a vase on a desk ... a simple sentence that says so so much.

Chloe
xoxo

[*** Hey Jude***]

Wow, talk about to pieces in a row I have now read that I can relate to on a very personal level. I love the way you have expressed these harsh moments that we all feel the shock, denial, etc�after someone we love passes. Amazing how the mind takes over and does what has to be done. This is a very vulnerable share. TY ~ Jude :-)

[R J Askew]

'And so hesitate as long as possible in 'before' ... is an achingly exquisite way to define how you felt at that terrible moment ... I am sorry you so far away and alone when you got the news. We can feel your mind racing over the minutia of what you feel you have to do. And then we feel you settle down and focus on the rose as you begin to take the news in. I imagine there were a score of similar moments in the hours that followed as you made your way back home. My thoughts and love are with you Apes. Ron.

[Angel's Lady]

Aw, honey, I"m so sorry....I won't ask if you're okay, because, of course, you're not.
Love and hugs to you, doll.