for Naomi.

I am the face down person you saw on the way to the brown lounge,

where the coffee and the Styrofoam cups sat open,

wedged between People magazines of aging starlets. Yes I was that one

you turned your head quickly not to notice my white gown riding up my thigh,

my wristband unintelligible. I was like you, in love once, then I remembered

how it was a kind of emergency. A sort of chemo, love was.

Whoever said that love would cure you hadn't hurled themselves

against the campus floor. That's it! Love is a sweeter  radiation. You lie still as can be

as not to harm the surrounding tissue, and just your heart is targeted.

And the beams hurl, hurl themselves at you until you believe that light

can make you better, as the debris of you spills off and is caught in bags

that are changed every hour. In the other room an

Asian with small hands who you think is Jesus by the way she says

"it's time" calls you by your last name. There are things that burst

under your tongue. Sublingual things, like grapes

or vomit lozenges, and the single rose your cousin left for you has gone on,

laying face down as you might,

always.

Reviews

[Arthur Henn]

This tugs at this readers heart strings. A yellow rose of hope to go through as a warm embrace to light a candle of prayer...

[h d e rushin]

thank you Arthur for those kind words.....dana

[Calamityofgin]

Oooh i like this..what an interesting metaphor for love..then lapsing into a story of chemotherapy.

Well done..a smart piece.

Love and wishes for good health abd good love.

Calamity of Jennifer

[Philip Muls]

Face down...very strong images come to mind. Love as a sort of chemo. Powerful. All the analogies with being in a hospital. Well done.

There are things that burst under your tongue. Sublingual things, like grapes. Just brilliant.

[h d e rushin]

thank you Philip for stopping by my friend and for that kind review....dana

[m.s.early]

This poem is think and still resonating inside of me.

[h d e rushin]

thank you so much x. for that image....and the kind thoughts...dana

[TheBrish]

I clicked on this poem because the title is the name of my daughter. I'm glad I did. A sad and beautiful poem.

[h d e rushin]

thanks TheBrish (love the name) for those kind words....dana

[3X3MPLER]

thats the bitter truth that many choose to ignore

[h d e rushin]

thank you my friend for stopping by to visit me....dana

[3X3MPLER]

thank you . I like it

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful and honest words dear Poet. The words sad and took reader to lost and falling down.
"you turned your head quickly not to notice my white gown riding up,
my wristband unintelligible. I was like you, in love once, then I remembered
how it was a kind of emergency. A sort of chemo, love was."
Love is a sweet dream that can lead us to utopia or make us burn-up, be left to decay and be forgotten. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[h d e rushin]

thank you so much my friend for your continued support...dana

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Dana.

[W.k.kortas]

I am struck by the notion of "sublingual things" things which exist outside of the realm of the spoken or written word, but exist nonetheless, and indeed are those things which give language meaning and context. Most of stuck with the limitations of the written word; a few (such as yourself, and the wise Messrs. Simm and Hart and the good Baldacci, all of whom have weighed in here) can translate the sublingual into text, which is a perfectly good definition of magic.

[h d e rushin]

my dear wk....I woke up with a cold but not in it. I am blessed on so many fronts...Here
more than others....thank you my friend....dana