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Open Poetry #21
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White Cotton Sheets
| Open Poetry #21 |
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White Cotton Sheets |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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White Cotton Sheets Oh, the white of cotton sheets The perfect edge, the perfect pleats The dreary walls, the lonely halls The soft excruciating calls I always gladly stood by you Through every test they put you through The chemicals, the painful nights The nightmare dreams and stinging bites But when I saw you lying there So thin and weak, no voice, no hair Your chest, your head, your thinning back Were left in radiation black My eyes were not prepared to view This dying man, this other you Who lived with me beneath blue sky And now a man too weak to cry And oh, the white of cotton sheets The tubes and needles, rhythmic beats Metallic bed, metallic sound A skimpy robe they tied around My heart was not prepared to see You tugging chains to set you free And oh, how much your eyes beseech A nurse’s button out of reach Never had I seen on earth Discomfort’s torture on a berth With cotton sheets of sterile white And ends and corners tucked in tight Your rose was but a thorny bush A button there too weak to push And all your pain I took as mine Til morphine’s regulation time A bowl of soup you could not eat Disturbing words you could not speak A skeleton between the threads Of sheets of white on metal beds And every player played his part But no one had prepared my heart Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (06-18-2002 11:15 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Goodknight Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386Ohio, USA |
I am speechless but truly overwhelmed at the power of your verse - Paul |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Oh Elizabeth... there are no words for this portrayal... except that I know how much heart it took to write of it... |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
This made me cry. I felt it with you. So well written. I would not have thought there were words to convey this reality, but you found them. Nan |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Paul, I've had this picture in my mind and now it's come our in words. Thank you Karilea, theses disturbing words had to be written.I've held them in so long THank you for your kind words Liz |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Nan, Thank you for responding to these wrenching toughts Liz |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
(((hugs)))  |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
Liz...My heart cries with you, real tears and real pain. I couldn't believe it when I saw this poem. My dear first husband died of lung cancer, 3 years ago and as I was reading your poem, I was reliving his death....almost word for word. It was quite a horrible way to die, but I could never get the words out as beautifully and poignantly as you have. Yours is a poem of raw truth. ~ sadly hugging you Lyra |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Oh Elizabeth...this is so achingly sad. So sad...I am speechless. ~Heart-hugs~ |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Mysteria, Thank you, dear, your hugs are always warm Lyra, Oh, thank you so much for your input. I didn't want to post this thinking no one would understand. This is a subject never talked about but I am sure Many have felt. HUgs |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Enchantress, Thank you. I would like to point out also that I gained a new resect for nurses and for their profession during this experience. |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
I know that, for you, this was the poem that you needed to write. . . peace and thoughts to you my friend. . . always. . . --------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Sven, Thank you so much for your words and your friendship Liz |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
Liz, this is soooo sad. Makes my heart ache. Thank you for sharing it. |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Elizabeth, this about tore my heart reading this, sweet friend, I know how sad and uncomfortable it must feel having to see something like this and I have nothing more to say about this other than it is so wonderfully heartfelt! (BIG HUGGGSSSSSSS) My thoughts are with you, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Elizabeth, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I can think of no one else who could have written this poem with such impact. Your words painted the picture perfectly. My admiration for your work continues to grow... |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Liz I am so glad to see you write this reality...now you can start to heal and hang those sheets you sleep in every night, out into the sunshine's bright, then sleep within that fragile clock that captures fregrance and becomes your rock. Much love to you from me! |
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devina Member Elite
since 1999-10-28
Posts 3539Cali |
I am utterly at a loss for word here Liz... this was painstakingly beautiful... so clear your tears are penned... wonderful flow of your heart ~HUGS~ sweetie... take care ~D Open arms can be the most fragile in the world... |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Elizabeth, Nothing could have ever prepared you but you handled the pain and sadness with your characteristic grace. (((HUGS))) |
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my3monkeytoes Member
since 2002-05-11
Posts 152In the Carolina Breeze |
OH, Elizabeth...this is some kind of expression. I hope writing is as soothing for you as it is for those of us reading your words. What a strong woman you must be! This is utterly perfect in display. I'm so sorry for the experiences that brought you such a write. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
May I ditto Balladeer? *S* I think too many of us can identify... but only you could write the ache and helplessness. I can only imagine how painful this was to write... and how much it needed to be written. It's heart-wrenching perfection. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
I would like to thank all for yoour heartfelt responces to this poem. It makes a difference when you can express and share feelings. THank you all very much Liz |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Elizabeth....This is from a deep well I know.........It's a marvelous display of your heart. Thanks for sharing........Eric |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
Remainer's song you pain, he gone, God gives the strength to struggle on. I appreciate this write. |
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