HENRY AND THE PARAPLEGIC DAME.

A BALDING AMERICAN WITH HIS WIFE IN NEW YORK SEES A PARAPLEGIC WOMAN GO BY IN A WHEELCHAIR AND IT SETS HIS THOUGHTS ON FIRE.

Henry was walking
with his wife
along the sidewalk
in the city

looking for some cafe
she knew
and wanted to go
when he saw this young dame

in a wheelchair
with long hair
and fine features
pushing the wheels

with her hands
and she had these
leather fingerless gloves
and he thought

who puts her in
and out of the chair?
who holds her close
to them and smells

the shampoo
in her hair
feels her small breasts
against them as they hold?

who gets her in
and out of the tub
or in and out of bed
who washes her back

or wipes her a*s?
She had wheeled herself by
but not before
he’d taken in all

that he could
the jeans she wore
the white tee-shirt
the black shoes

the pretty lips
the way she gripped
and pushed the wheels
his wife was yakking

about some dress
she’d seen
in some store
and wanted to go

and look and maybe buy
but the passing dame
had caught his eye
and he wondered how

she got to be in the chair
accident or from birth
disease or some beat up
that went wrong?

He couldn’t ask that’d
be too rude and besides
she was well on
her way now

and his wife was striding
on with determined gaze
but he couldn’t get
the dame out of his head

her sitting there
with her long flowing hair
and those eyes
and the constant questions

of who did what for her
and how did she
do this and that
and who lifted her up

and out? was it some
strong guy some
dedicated hunk?
Or maybe her mother

and father did the job
of getting her in shape
and bathed
he thought

and did she screw
like other dames
have some fond lover
who played the game?  

All the questions
and no answers
made him wonder more
even later in the cafe

sipping the his latte
while his wife yakked away
and even later that night
in bed besides his wife

who snored
he pictured the dame
beside him
a paraplegic model

or an art piece
that he adored.

Reviews

[Sue]

I can imagine these thoughts must cross the mind of even the most attentive of husbands, whatever the abilities of their wives.....there is still a sadness though that come through of what might have been... a thoughtful piece which provokes much thought....

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, Sue.

[emmajoy]

The second piece of yours I've read.. and again, amazingly graphic and yet so scantily written. You place words very carefully, like one of those prompt boards nudging the reader to see more than is. Your woman in the chair is somehow magnified, makes your lady-wife smaller.. no, insignificant, poor lady. There's a mind that sees truth but can't help from embroidering it, adding strands, adding colour; your've made your paraplegic dame (why not 'woman?') into the near only character in this.

[Glen Yumang Manese]

The way this envelops and just carries through the lines... amazing what one event can do... put all those thoughts in the mind... and still answering the same immediate question not answered... Yet, as I read this ... the whole event came in the end of this write... the thing that was missing is the very void... which caused the event to begin with... all the attributes that his wife did not have... a beautiful sight did... even with all the odds against her and state of being... you've found a treasure to fill the void...

[Terry Collett]

You are a careful & insightful reader, Glen. Thank you.

[Kelly Scheppers]

She was a stream of consciousness that you brought to light...wonderful writing, Terry!


My best,
Kelly

[Terry Collett]

Thank you for reading & comments,Kelly.

[Kelly Scheppers]

...my pleasure!