Open Poetry #38 |
you be here tonight? |
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
as I prepare to leave the Home in the morning after breakfast and meds, he queries "you be here tonight?" his head tilted to one side, one eye glazing over from cataracts and a simple mind that stays focussed, past any and all stall patterns, all stumbling blocks thrown in his way I answer "yes" and the next night as I come through the door, "will you smoke me?" he asks, holding his pipe in one hand, armed with the same head tilt and determination, hoping for me to fill his pipe again, forgetting he just came in from last-smoke-for-the-night or he greets me with "let's fix the plane" his other favorite passing-time thing, working on model planes and helicopters gluing back broken wings and rotors, missing landing gear, cockeyed cockpits and again he queries "you be here tomorrow?" I say "yes" three or four times a week tonight is cookie making night, and I hear the questions, see the head tilt, long before I enter the door [This message has been edited by Midnitesun (07-30-2006 12:03 AM).] |
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© Copyright 2006 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved | |||
themute Member
since 2006-05-08
Posts 469Maryland |
this rings both sad and true to me. I am the two-toed wanderer |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
This sums up one wonderful aspect of Kacy(though there are many equally wonderful). You are there not only for him, but for everyone - individually and in planetsful! Beautifully portrayed, though the pain shines through, but "shines" means there is light. - Owl |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Kacy, this takes me back to my childhood days...see, my grandmother had a nursing home, and my mom did for awhile, too....so I grew up with these kind of questions from the elderly and impaired. You do such a great service, and I know you are appreciated more than you may ever know. *hugs*.....jo |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice writing...James |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Kacy So poignant, it took me back to my father...when he became a child again and I, his mother. |
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Decaflame Senior Member
since 2001-05-11
Posts 1635 |
On several levels... a |
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seraphin Senior Member
since 2000-09-24
Posts 1004Michigan |
How do I reply? Even more appropriate, how do I not. This is profound. A beautiful work, about two beautiful people. Both, very courageous, it's just one of them forgets, or maybe they both do. |
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divine chaos Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617dancing 'neath the moon |
Kacy, you definitely hit me in the solar plexus with this one. Absolutlely amazing. I am always in such awe of those that can do this kind of work and have great admiration and respect for them. I am a medical transcriptionist, and some of the reports I do are just heartwrenching, I'm not sure I could handle it on a face to face basis. wonderful work, the poetry and the career ~*Sheli*~ By words the mind is winged |
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Ceinwyn Member Elite
since 2000-07-09
Posts 2175VA |
I agree profound..again I am left speechless..I see my grandfather when I read this.. If at first you don't succeed destroy all the evidence that you tried. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I am now up from my AM sleep pattern, and want to thanke each of you for reading and commenting. Dear mute, 'tis a true story, but not a sad one to me. When someone can stay so focussed on achieving his goal in spite of any obstacles, is a positive. Considering that at age 63, in this case, and developmentally disabled, he has a safe home to live in and his needs (and some of his wants) are cared for by a dedicated staff, I'd say it it far from a sad scenerio. And he makes me laugh WITH him, not AT him or his situation, every time I go to work. |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
You left me a bit speechless. I know I'll be back to read this again. aziza |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
LOL, aziza, hopefully 'speechless' also means it hit the mark, conjured up an image and scenario that was 3D and believable, and a good read? |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Kacy, so wonderfully written. It's obvious you love him and you love what you do. Developmentally disabled people are true gifts to those of us who know and love them. |
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divine chaos Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617dancing 'neath the moon |
Kacy, you have no idea what a feat you accomplished when you rendered aziza 'speechless' *grins* ~*Sheli*~ By words the mind is winged |
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aziza Member Elite
since 2006-07-09
Posts 2995Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy! |
It meant all that and more. |
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marcel Senior Member
since 2003-03-02
Posts 660az, usa |
how beautiful with a bit of sadness... |
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Greeneyes
since 2000-09-09
Posts 9903In Your Poetic Mind |
this is so sad, and so touching..... And so it those we live with |
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