Now

Photo by Tara Brach

Now

is harsh lamps; lit in fading black moon rain

this bed should be my place of comfort 

and rest ......... 

this room            this room ............._

                                                             _

                                                                _

                                                                  _ has

graven ash faces with long, large, ears and

old man hairs    uncut        and 

only hear whirring ............ beeping ........ clicks and pricks

that seep through the fogs

blending neural walls bland

stone tears 

past remorse now

rays iris' colors to shrouded gray  -   in stark relief.

waiting

                                      THEY

should know me better

some sleep             please           I just need

one fleeting moment           

                                    PLEASE!

please, please burn down the lights

kill the floods up front!

it's harsh            smelling of burned umber and metal filings        crisp and unclean

          charcoal crimson 

weeks and weeks of layered body oils and stink

splintering bone, like broken thorns piercing

those places ...........................................

the watching plods

in agony

in horror

in apathy

this now.

4/28/22

E.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Relic]

Yes, my father was in and out of hospitals for many years and I can relate to this. I remember that horrible light behind his bed, the constant beeping, the nurses coming in and out. I can only imagine what it must have been like for him under the haze of the drugs going through his system.

You caught the emotions in this splendidly. Excellent work.

[Einstein Noodle]

aw Relic!!! i am so humbled and gratified for your reading and sharing about your Da ... yes! one can only imagine what it is like ... when one is present ... yet unaccounted for ... love ya man ... good on you for being with your Da in that most hard time for family and friends actually eh!? peace and joy and thank you for this visit
E.

[Temperance]

Oh my....is it that struggle to find resting sleep or, bad memories of things that go bump in the night? I feel there are different things going on here. Not finding sleep but, maybe you're dead and don't know it yet. Vehicle crash with the metal filings and ...crisp and unclean charcoal crimson (blood). It almost sounds like a cry from....not the grave yet....but, from a mortuary/coroner's lab. Or...maybe you are dead (in this poem!) graven ash faces....stone tears (headstones - tears from the family). So many ways to go with this. Very thought-provoking Mr. E. I think I read this 6 times trying to get inside it. Very talented Mr. E! Glad to see a new post from you. Fondest regards, Temp

[Einstein Noodle]

wow!!! you get me Temp!!! i am so happy ;)))))))) as i was saying to Sir J .. i had second thoughts about this because of it's abstractness .. you hit the button young lady .. thanks so much!!!
E.

[Temperance]

Phew! I read some of the other reviews after I wrote mine and thought I might be way off base. Glad I hit it. Temp

[Lydia Shutter]

Sounds to me like a nightmare....or else being awake in the middle of the night when the ticking of the clock seems to haunt and the light coming in the room from the moon is eerie. In any case, the mood is somber. Downright scary even. The music is the perfect accompaniment to your words. E, your poetry is deep and multi-layered and I often wonder what you had in mind when you put the words on the page. Lydi**

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... well ... i wonder me self :))))))))) i am so grateful for your continued support, Lydi ... and yes! somber and a bit scary ;)
E.